Daily
Mail: Philips, a Dutch electronics company, is developing a
bio-light
that provides illumination using the same method as fireflies
and glow worms, writes Gareth Finighan for the
Daily Mail. The lamp consists of a series of glass
chambers that contain bioluminescent bacteria, which glow green
when fed methane gas pumped into the unit through a
household-waste
digester. Although most people would not necessarily want
to introduce bacterial cultures into their homes, such a
lighting method could have outside applications, such as
illuminating walkways. The company is also working on an
alternative method that uses fluorescent proteins that emit
different frequencies of light. “Energy-saving light
bulbs will only take us so far. We need to push ourselves to
rethink domestic appliances entirely, to rethink how homes
consume energy, and how entire communities can pool
resources,” said Clive van Heerden of Philips
Design.
