The end of back yard astronomy - as we know it

[Allan_L (Allan)]

I heard this recently, not sure where, but it sounded authoritative.

In an attempt to save on power generation increased demand, and as an alternative to building new infrastructure, scientists are developing genetically modified trees that will produce their own luminescence at night.

The plan is that if all the trees are luminescent, they can do away with street lights !

Can you imagine, every tree emiting its own personal light pollution!

Please Lord, save us from the do-gooders!

[Outbackmanyep]

What idiot thought this up?

[pgc hunter]

10 bucks says it's Bob Brown. Only him and his frootloop party would be capable of even thinking of something so messed up.

What a puke of an idea

[SkyViking (Rolf)]

What a silly idea, and probably blown out of proportions by the media as usual. Apart from the light pollution issue, what about nocturnal wildlife for example?

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

10 bucks says it's Bob Brown. Only him and his frootloop party would be capable of even thinking of something so messed up.

What a puke of an idea

Bob Brown is about the only pollie I still have any respect for.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Pandora on Earth.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Pandora on Earth.

In our genetically modified future, perhaps this is a precursor to making people luminescent to avoid traffic accidents and make pedestrians safer.
You get to choose the sex of your child in utero and also get to choose what colour they would be. Bring it on, brave new world.

Peter

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

You could get them to flash in a sequence so that they can be recognised by cameras like a bar coding... where's my hubby.com
just pop in his sequence and the camera shows him making out with your neighbour

[Outbackmanyep]

The only trees that should glow are the ones i glimpsed in ET!

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Iscientists are developing genetically modified trees that will produce their own luminescence at night.

If my grass glows a very dull red, at least I wouldn't trip so much over my cables

[Analog6 (Odille)]

The Koreans already made glow in the dark animals, so it's hardly surprising.

[Robert9 (Robert)]

Can't you imagine what comes next? Luminous landing strips for flying pigs!

[astronut (John)]

Please don't start me on Bob Brown....

[telemarker (Keith)]

What wavelength so I can corner the market in LPS filters.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by astronut

Please don't start me on Bob Brown....

lol he's a great source of astonishment and entertainment isn't he

he also looks like a fossilized version of hitler....coincidence...nah

[alexch (Alex)]

It's not all bad:

http://news.discovery.com/tech/glowi...ng-lights.html

...
Chlorophyll, the photosynthetic pigment that gives leaves their characteristic green color, is widely known for its ability to absorb certain wavelengths of light. However, under certain circumstances, such as being exposed to violet light, chlorophyll can also produce a light of its own. When exposed to light with a wavelengths of about 400 nanometers the normally green colored chlorophyll glows red.
Violet light is hard to come by though, especially at night, when glowing leaves would be useful to drivers and pedestrians. The scientists needed a source of violet light, and found it in the gold nanoparticles.
When shorter wavelengths of light, invisible to the human eye, hit the gold nanoparticles, they get excited and start to glow violet. That violet light strikes the nearby chlorophyll molecules, excites them, and the chlorophyll then produces the red light.
....
"They certainly could be used as street lights," said Ray. "But that's a long way away."

Not only they need "excited" gold nano-particles but the trees would glow RED!!!

As I understand, the trees are not genetically modified, but are implanted with gold nano-particles. I don't think the trees will be made luminescent everywhere, as gold nano-particles wouldn't be exactly cheap, but if all street lights are replaced with trees glowing red - I am all for it (even though I might be 123 years old then with Mallincam eyes)!

Alex

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by pmrid

In our genetically modified future, perhaps this is a precursor to making people luminescent to avoid traffic accidents and make pedestrians safer.

http://www.ideaconnection.com/innova...lut-00112.html

[PeterM]

It has already started! This month big time, trees everywhere in streets, in houses (even on houses) and in shops lit up by strange modified lights!
PeterM.

[TrevorW]

Note: why not just turn the bloody things off at night ????

Oh that would be too smart, now , would it not

[Jen]

Well at least we wouldnt have to decorate the xmas trees