I think they mean the algae is in sunlight during the day and growing, producing light only at night.
card_zero [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
That sounds kinda like carbon capture, but decentralized to these light nodes
card_zero [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Unlike artificial carbon capture, natural carbon capture like algae here become insect/worm/bird feed or manure/coal.
gostsamo [3 hidden]5 mins ago
if the output is consistent, could be used for producing biofuel or plastic.
technotony [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
did you keep a few of your gmo cultures?
ceejayoz [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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.
Modern LED lights really draw no power at all in the grand scheme of things
walrus01 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
It rather resembles the CGI protomolecule from 'The Expanse'.
hoerensagen [3 hidden]5 mins ago
It is also relevant to something from the last three books, which haven't made it onto TV yet.
cassianoleal [3 hidden]5 mins ago
So can torches and candles.
dullcrisp [3 hidden]5 mins ago
The sun?
sandworm101 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I think it's fine for research, curiosity, aesthetic and coolness factor. Not everything need to be 'practical'.
m3kw9 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
good for car dashboards, maybe for not vital areas
rini17 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
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 [3 hidden]5 mins ago
I don’t want algae on my vital areas
Razengan [3 hidden]5 mins ago
Technically [nerd emoji] nothing is possible without electricity
HN.zip
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?
Edit: my microbes were gmo, these are not, so no epa rules. Good luck to them!
I have a genetically engineered luminescent petunia plant. It’s neat, but a ways off from being useful for anything.
Then you can take the next step and both their apparent output further by replacing the algae with tiny blue LED modules.
Such an idea might be a good startup pitch for gullible investors but won't survive clash with reality.
(No I don’t go to any parties)