TIME Magazine Honors the Light Bio Firefly Petunia
November 12, 2024 | 1 min to read
The petunias from the startup Light Bio appear as ordinary white flowers by day but emit a soft, enchanting glow at night, reminiscent of moonlight. This phenomenon stems from the scientific splicing of the petunia’s DNA with that of bioluminescent mushrooms. Currently available for pre-order for spring 2025, these flowers are recognized as the “Best Invention of 2024.”
By day, the petunias look like normal white flowers. In the evening, they emanate a soft glow that looks like moonlight. It feels like magic but is rooted in science: The startup Light Bio spliced the petunia’s DNA with that of bioluminescent mushrooms, creating the soothing glow-in-the-dark wonder. (The plants are commercially available via Light Bio’s website, but are sold seasonally; the company is taking pre-orders for spring 2025 delivery.)
To learn more about this “Best Invention of 2024”, please go to: TIME