THE LIGHTING TREES ARE COMING...

(Photo: Copyright Control)

Imagine a world where streetlamps no longer run on electricity. Or rather, they no longer exist, since they are replaced by trees that emit light. This alien-like scenario is not something out of sci-fi movie Avatar – it is actually a Kickstarter project by Israeli-American company Genome Compiler – and it’s well on its way to reality. Using the company’s technology, Genome Compiler will synthesize the DNA of an Arabidopsis plant with genes from a firefly that cause natural luminosity. Project manager Anthony Evans calls the project a “first step in creating sustainable natural lighting.”