【精英翻譯】的部落格

A Brighter Future with Glowing Plants發光植物：未來照明新技術
—Brent Calkins

精英翻譯社轉自https://paper.udn.com/udnpaper/POH0058/329922/web/

When it's time to hit the books, you may sometimes use a desk lamp to help you read. But have you ever read by the light of a plant? According to a group of scientists at MIT, this might soon be possible.
到了要用功唸書的時候，你有時可能會用檯燈來幫助你閱讀。但你是否曾藉由植物的光來閱讀呢？根據一群麻省理工學院的科學家所言，這也許很快會成為可能。

The scientists got certain plants to give off light by using a special chemical. This chemical also gives fireflies their glow. The scientists put the plants in a solution that contained the chemical. Then, they exposed the plants to high pressure. This caused a natural reaction of energy that produces light. The plants glowed for nearly four hours.
科學家利用一種特殊的化學物質使某些植物發光。這種化學物質也使得螢火蟲能發光。科學家將植物放入含有這種化學物質的溶液中。接著，他們將植物暴露在高壓下。這造成一種自然能量的反應而產生光線。這些植物能持續發光將近四個小時。

Plant light could one day take the place of traditional electric light sources, which are less friendly to the environment. The scientists say that if their work improves, plants that give off light may one day be used for all sorts of purposes. Imagine a world in which rather than streetlamps, we use trees to light our way home! Thanks to this technology, the future is certainly looking bright.

發光植物可能有一天會取代對環境較不友善的傳統電力光源。科學家說如果他們的成果能提升，發光的植物有一天也許會被運用在各種用途上。想像一個不是用路燈，而是用樹木照亮我們回家的路的世界！由於這項科技，未來肯定充滿光明希望。