PREVIEW

Swiss researchers have developed a new kind of wood that glows in the dark. To achieve the breakthrough, they combined balsa with a bioluminescent fungus. The innovative material uses white rot fungus D. tabescens to create a sustainable light source. Honey fungus produces luciferin, which generates a green glow through a chemical reaction with caffeic acid. Soaking balsa wood for months boosted its moisture content, enabling it to glow for up to 10 days. This biohybrid wood could offer eco-friendly alternatives for home lighting and reduce light pollution. The concept is inspired by "foxfire," a natural glow in fungi observed for centuries. Researchers are focused on enhancing brightness, extending glow duration, and testing more wood types. Future applications could unlock versatile and sustainable lighting solutions without electricity.