Astro Hacker News - Light without electricity? Glowing algae could make it possible

card_zero |next [-]

> Because these algae are photosynthetic ... "We’re storing carbon while we’re producing light"

The circle of light! Perpetual illumination! Let the algae do photosynthesis using their own light output as energy!

What's happening, chemically? Let's see ... it's luciferin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luciferin_Light_Emission_... Isn't that CO2 being emitted on the right, there?

shellfishgene |root |parent [-]

I think they mean the algae is in sunlight during the day and growing, producing light only at night.

card_zero |root |parent |next [-]

Could be. So over the mentioned four weeks, the algae is reproducing more cells in sunlight, and emitting light at night, while gradually wearing out in some way and "retaining 75% of their brightness". Then at the end of the month you have a bucket of tired algae, and that's the stored carbon. I don't know what you do with it. You probably shouldn't chuck it in a river. Its likely fate is methane, wherever you put it.

californical |root |parent [-]

That sounds kinda like carbon capture, but decentralized to these light nodes

card_zero |root |parent [-]

It seems to me that it has the same problem as carbon capture, which is how to make the result inert, or which deep hole to pump it into. Two people apparently silently disagreed with this, I wonder what was bothering them?

kang |root |parent |next [-]

Unlike artificial carbon capture, natural carbon capture like algae here become insect/worm/bird feed or manure/coal.

gostsamo |root |parent |previous [-]

if the output is consistent, could be used for producing biofuel or plastic.

aaron695 |root |parent |previous [-]

[dead]

technotony |next |previous [-]

I hope this works. A decade ago I submitted glowing microbes to the epa but they blocked it. My read from going through that was that it was politically impossible. Hopefully times have changed.

Edit: my microbes were gmo, these are not, so no epa rules. Good luck to them!

arthurcolle |root |parent [-]

did you keep a few of your gmo cultures?

ceejayoz |next |previous [-]

This feels like weird framing. They still need energy to produce it.

I have a genetically engineered luminescent petunia plant. It’s neat, but a ways off from being useful for anything.

aetherspawn |root |parent |next [-]

Wow.. this is maybe the plant for anyone interested: https://light.bio/

contingencies |root |parent |previous [-]

Mushrooms too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalotus_nidiformis

Scroll_Swe |next |previous [-]

Modern LED lights really draw no power at all in the grand scheme of things

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walrus01 |next |previous [-]

It rather resembles the CGI protomolecule from 'The Expanse'.

hoerensagen |root |parent [-]

It is also relevant to something from the last three books, which haven't made it onto TV yet.

cassianoleal |next |previous [-]

So can torches and candles.

dullcrisp |root |parent [-]

The sun?

sandworm101 |next |previous [-]

Why all the bother with 3d-printed gel shapes? Why not just use a mat of these things, all glowing, and then put it behind an LCD panel. Then you can have moving pictures without all the bother of 3d printing.

Then you can take the next step and both their apparent output further by replacing the algae with tiny blue LED modules.

kiba |root |parent [-]

I think it's fine for research, curiosity, aesthetic and coolness factor. Not everything need to be 'practical'.

m3kw9 |next |previous [-]

good for car dashboards, maybe for not vital areas

rini17 |root |parent |next [-]

Good? You would need the dashboard climate controlled all the time otherwise the algae gets sterilised in the sun. On the other hand, if you park underground all day, must provide light otherwise it dies. Either way it will eat your battery in no time.

Such an idea might be a good startup pitch for gullible investors but won't survive clash with reality.

Razengan |root |parent |previous [-]

I don’t want algae on my vital areas

Razengan |previous [-]

Technically [nerd emoji] nothing is possible without electricity

(No I don’t go to any parties)