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Thin flexible hollow panels contain the bacteria V. fischeri [link] in an amino acid rich medium. The thickness of the panel precisely determines the number of bacterium which can grow.
With the the flick of a switch several bacteria are reintroduced so the whole can attain critical mass and luminesce.
Bacteria whisperer.
http://www.wired.co...1.04/quorum_pr.html [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 18 2010]
[link]
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I think it was saying that they're still luminescent at lower numbers, but they get brighter when they reach critical mass... so you'd have a softly glowing night light until you needed more light. |
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I wonder how quickly they light up when they do reach critical mass. Hmm... |
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I thought this was going to be a Klaxon on the
Biggest Loser weigh-in stage. WARNING! YOU'VE
ACHIEVED CRITICAL MASS! LIGHT CANNOT ESCAPE
YOUR EVENT HORIZON! |
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I was so much expecting this to be a huge pile of pseudo-physics drivel that I had to read it a couple times to figure out what the idea actually was, and that it was actually coherent and logical. |
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It's an interesting idea, though I wonder how long it would take for the light to "turn on" after you hit the switch. Bacteria don't grow instantly. [+-] |
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They don't grow instantly but as far as I know they light up quickly once the right number is reached so if a portion of them are separated the light goes off. Reintroduce them and the light goes on. No growth. |
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Ah, I see. I should have figured that out. Bun, then. |
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