Fluorescent trees
Researchers at the Research Center for Applied Science, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, discovered that when gold nanoparticles are implanted in Bacopa caroliniana plants and exposed to high wavelength ultraviolet light, “the nanoparticles can produce a blue-violet fluorescence that triggers a red emission of the surrounding chlorophyll.”
A useful application of this discovery is converting trees into street lights. Phosphor powder, a highly toxic chemical, is used in the now ever-present LED street lights and display panels. Bio-LEDs offer a safer alternative to LED street lights; though, efficiency in bioluminescence needs to improve if this technology is to have a global impact of saving energy and reducing environmental pollution.
Contact: Research Center for Applied Science, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
