Scientists are developing ways of making trees glow so they can be used as natural streetlights without the need for electricity. A team of researchers are experimenting with genes to allow the trait that causes fireflies to glow -bioluminescence - to be implanted into a variety of different organisms。
科學家正在研究一種物質(zhì)可以可以使“植物發(fā)光”,將來這種物質(zhì)未來會代替“路燈”讓樹木不用任何“電能”產(chǎn)生出自然光造福人類。研究團隊通過研究“促使螢火蟲發(fā)光的基因”而希望能對植物以及不同的有機生物體產(chǎn)生類似的效果。
如果研究能成功,這種“熒光樹”將會取代傳統(tǒng)路燈,而成為依賴“電能”的人類的福音。未來如果人類需要更多光的話,那么種多一點“熒光樹”就能達到目的了。
Geneticist Theo Sanderson, one of the members of the team, told New Scientist: ‘We didn't end up making bioluminescent trees, which was the inspiration for the project.‘But we decided to make a set of parts that would allow future researchers to use bioluminescence more effectively.’The team say that there is huge commercial potential in replacing the street with natural bioluminescent systems. The idea is also extremely environmentally friendly as no electricity would be required and the process which produces the photons of light is extremely energy-efficient。
遺傳學者Theo Sanderson告訴媒體:“我們在研究熒光樹的道路上也許會遇到阻礙,但是我們不會放棄。我們?nèi)〉玫囊稽c點進展,都會讓生物體發(fā)光終變成現(xiàn)實。”研究者還說,這項研究項目將具有重大的潛在商業(yè)意義,如果試驗取得實質(zhì)性進展,全球各大廠商將會樂意為我們投資。主要還是因為該項目十分環(huán)保、而且節(jié)約能源。
The scientists have also considered the possibility that the fuel to fire the chemical reaction in the trees could come from human waste or food waste。
與此同時,科學家還考慮將“人類廢棄物”變成新能源,運用在生物體發(fā)光的項目中,如此說來,電影《阿凡達》中五顏六色的“熒光樹”不再是虛擬的,未來有可能成為現(xiàn)實呢!