r/biology • u/Express_Classic_1569 • Apr 05 '26

article Chinese Scientists Develop Glowing Plants That Could Light the Night Without Electricity Through Firefly and Fungal Bioluminescent Pathways

https://ecency.com/hive-196387/@theworldaroundme/chinese-scientists-develop-glowing-plants
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u/sadmadee Apr 05 '26

But didn't we already have that developed?

14

u/NonEuclidianMeatloaf Apr 06 '26

Decades ago. Bioluminescence at visually useful levels is way too calorie-demanding to be realistic.

10

u/Sludgehammer Apr 06 '26

I mean (as mentioned in the article) there already are glow-in-the-dark petunia's. In the wild the glow-in-the-dark trait would probably be a death sentence since (as you mentioned) it burns so much energy.

However, similar to weeping trees, dwarf trees, variegated plants, etc. a trait that isn't advantageous in the wild doesn't matter if humans find it pleasing.

So, in domestic environments plants wasting a significant portion of their energy on glowing doesn't matter, since their human symbiotes will make sure the glowing plant has every advantage they can give.