Can plants glow like fireflies?

We all know that fireflies can sparkle and are beautiful, but I wonder if you have ever imagined that the plants around us can glow like fireflies? As early as 2017, scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology put this bold idea into practice.
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researchers have successfully allowed the plant to shine for nearly four hours by embedding special nanoparticles into the pod plant, a technique that has theoretically been shown to be used in most plants.
the study is known to be led by Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT, who is an expert in graphene and carbon nanos, and who has deep knowledge in nanotechnology, after leading a team that made plants a sensor that can detect explosives and drought information by embedding carbon nanotubes in plant leaves.
, professor Strano's team made it possible for plants to glow, and the key to making them glow is to cleverly match the three ingredients, luciferin, and coenzyme A.
luciferases can make lucifer molecules glow, while coenzyme A inhibits the activity of enzymes and controls the reaction process, while also removing by-products produced during this process to protect plants from harm.
identified the luminescent ingredients, it was to find the right vector for them, and after studying, the team selected three nanoparticles of different diameters that were harmless to plants.
(nanoparticles are hand-made microparticles no larger than 100 nanometers.)
) After the nanoparticle vectors were made, the researchers suspended them in a solution, dipped the plant sourced it in the solution, and finally underhigh treatment allowed the nanoparticle vector to enter the leaves through the pores of the plant blades.
because of the different carrier diameters, the carrier carrying luciferase and coenzyme A will stay in the outer gap of the leaf cell, that is, the inner layer of the leaf, and the smaller carrier carrying luciferase will enter the leaf cell.
after the carrier is gradually cracked, the lucifer enters the leaf cell, reacting with the luciferase to cause the plant to emit light.
although the 10 cm high pod seedlings used in the experiment were able to illuminate the text on the book, they were still very reluctant.
but the researchers believe the technology can make plants capable of lighting public places such as streets by further adjusting them to optimize the concentration and release rate of ingredients.
in addition to the seedlings of bean petals, the researchers also experimented with sesame seeds, kale, spinach and other plants, and the results showed that the technique could theoretically be used in any type of plant.
in the future, in addition to continuing to experiment with different plant types, the team plans to develop a way to spray nanoparticles directly into the leaves of plants, making it easier for plants to perform luminescence modifications.
Source: Looking Down at the World.