Chinese scientists grow multicoloured glowing plants that shine like lamps in dark

What if the plants on your desk could shine after dark? Scientists in China have made that possible by creating rainbow-coloured, glow-in-the-dark succulents that light up for hours.

How do these succulents glow in the dark?
Researchers at South China Agricultural University injected special phosphor particles into the leaves of Echeveria "Mebina" succulents. These particles absorbed sunlight or LED light and then released it slowly, creating a visible afterglow. Unlike earlier methods, the succulents glowed brightly for up to two hours.

Previous genetic engineering approaches used bioluminescent genes from organisms such as phytoplankton. But those genes produced only limited green light. Material-based experiments injected nanoparticles from firefly luciferase, yet the glow was faint and faded within 30 minutes. In contrast, the new study used micron-sized phosphor particles, each as wide as a red blood cell. These particles were large enough to emit strong light but small enough to move freely within succulent tissues.

Did the technique work on all plants?
No, the team tested other plants like bok choy and golden pothos, but those failed. The researchers said the succulents worked because their leaves have wider gaps between cells, which allow the particles to spread easily. The chosen species, Echeveria "Mebina", has blue-green leaves with red tips and proved the perfect candidate.