Scientists have made plants that light up. They will soon light up our lives. The scientists work in the USA. They hope their plant lights could replace electric lights and even street lights. Professor Michael Strano said his team hopes the plant lights will help the environment. He said: "The vision is to make a plant that will function as a desk lamp - a lamp that you don't have to plug in. The light is…powered by the energy…of the plant."
The idea for the plant lights came from fireflies. They took the thing in fireflies that makes them glow. They put this thing into spinach and watercress leaves to make them glow. The plants glowed for nearly four hours. Professor Strano said he wanted to treat a young plant just one time and have it light up, "for the lifetime of the plant". He said plant lights will be a part of our life. He said: "We think this is an idea whose time has come."