Sunday, June 24, 2007

Spinach is good for your 'SOL'


SOLar energy, that is! We've all heard about solar panels, but this new design is based on the idea that the skin of spinach can generate energy. Well, it can: The protein, photosystem I, is found in the chloroplasts of all plants (basically the energy power-house. Much like our mitochondria, which are OUR energy power-house parts). Photosystem I is a cluster of 200 to 300 light-absorbing pigments located in the thylakoid of the plant. Although this project is still in the works, it appears that it can help in our quest for a more sustainable approach to our living situations.

3 comments:

Douglas Cress said...

They might also use the vegetable to feed humans who would in turn run around in giant wheels to produce energy.

Marissa Beck said...

I would totally do that (run on a giant wheel, that is). Oh-- we already came up with that: treadmills. The vegetable? textured SOY-tein...

Anonymous said...

Good post.

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