Scientists Discover Methods of Harvesting Electricity from Plants

Photo via Shutterstock When it comes to capturing solar energy, plants are first in their class. Able to function at nearly 100 percent quantum efficiency, they can produce an equal number of electrons for each photon captured. Using these photons to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, the resulting electrons are able to create sugars that help the plant to live and reproduce. Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a way to harness the power of the photosynthetic process  to generate a clean form of electricity. Ramaraja Ramasamy, assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering, explained how his team manipulated the biology for human advantage. Read the rest of Scientists Discover Methods of Harvesting Electricity from Plants Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “clean energy” , carbon nanotubules , electrons , journal of energy and environmental science , photon , photosynthesis , plants , quantum efficiency , ramaraja ramasamy , Solar Power , sun , thylakoids , uga college of engineering , University of Georgia , water issues        

Excerpt from: 
Scientists Discover Methods of Harvesting Electricity from Plants

Montreal-based PlantCatching Website Finds a Home for Unwanted Seeds, Bulbs and Plants

Photo via Shutterstock Developed by Nicholas Cadilhac, a computer scientist and enthusiastic gardener in Montreal, PlantCatching is a website that helps people share unwanted plants, seeds, bulbs and other garden supplies. Cadilhac created the site after he found that a lot of his plants and materials were going to waste—and that many of his neighbors had the same problem. His simple, social site features a map where gardeners can log the location and details of their unwanted plants so that others may come and find them. Read the rest of Montreal-based PlantCatching Website Finds a Home for Unwanted Seeds, Bulbs and Plants Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: community gardening , garden , Gardening , herbs , plant pots , plants , Sustainable , swap

See the original post:
Montreal-based PlantCatching Website Finds a Home for Unwanted Seeds, Bulbs and Plants

DIY: 10 Amazing Homemade Terrariums That Make Perfect Holiday Gifts!

Read the rest of DIY: 10 Amazing Homemade Terrariums That Make Perfect Holiday Gifts! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Christmas , DIY , Gardening , gift guide , green materials , Holiday , how to make your own gifts , how-to , plants , repurposed materials , terrarium , top 10 , upcycled

Go here to see the original: 
DIY: 10 Amazing Homemade Terrariums That Make Perfect Holiday Gifts!

WVTTK Architects’ Living Bus Shelter in Eindhoven is Overflowing with Plants

Read the rest of WVTTK Architects’ Living Bus Shelter in Eindhoven is Overflowing with Plants Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags:

See the rest here:
WVTTK Architects’ Living Bus Shelter in Eindhoven is Overflowing with Plants

O2forYou is a Database of Houseplants That Clean Your Air

Houseplants are wonderful for livening up indoor spaces – but did you also know that many of them are effective natural air purifiers too? If you’re looking for a new plant for your home or office, O2forYou is a database full of different plants that clean your air. You can also look for plants with ‘ O2 for You ‘ tags at your local retailer and reap the benefits of these hard working plants. + O2forYou The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to  see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following  this link . Remember to follow our  instructions  carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing. Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: 02 for you , benefits of indoor plants , ferns and spider plants , house plants , houseplants , indoor plant week , Indoor Plants , National Indoor Plant Week , peace lilies , plants

Here is the original: 
O2forYou is a Database of Houseplants That Clean Your Air

The Aura Living Plant Lamp Changes Colors When you Touch its Leaves!

Germany-based designer Viktor Alexander Kolbig has created the Aura – a living lamp that can be controlled by lightly touching its petals and leaves! Combining nature and technology, the system uses a hidden sensor to turn on its LED light and change its color whenever the plant’s stem, leaf, flower or vase is touched. Controlled by a separate module with no electrical connection to the plant, the Aura adds a fairy-like glow to a room – hit the jump to see it in action! Read the rest of The Aura Living Plant Lamp Changes Colors When you Touch its Leaves! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: germany , hfg schwabisch gmud , interactive interface , LED , micro controller , plants , RGB , sensor , viktor alexander kolbig

View original post here:
The Aura Living Plant Lamp Changes Colors When you Touch its Leaves!

Mischer’traxler’s Leafy Living Necklace Dazzles With Seeds Instead of Gemstones

Viennese design duo Mischer’traxler teamed up with Rozet & Fischmeister jewelers to create a beautiful line of leafy green jewelry that you can grow yourself ! The beautiful organic jewelry starts as a lacy framework silver embedded with seeds instead of gems – as the seeds sprout the foliage crawls up the chain like a trellis to fill out the design. Read the rest of Mischer’traxler’s Leafy Living Necklace Dazzles With Seeds Instead of Gemstones Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Accessories and Fashion , Art , Botanical , grow your own , Jewelery , MischerTraxler , plants , Rozet&Fischmeister Court Jewelers

Read more from the original source:
Mischer’traxler’s Leafy Living Necklace Dazzles With Seeds Instead of Gemstones

Leading Botanical Institutions Team Up To Produce Online Catalog of All Plants on Earth

In an effort to help prevent further loss of plant biodiversity around the world, four leading botanical institutions have announced plans to team up and catalog every plant on Earth . The New York Botanical Garden , the Missouri Botanical Garden , the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew , and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will join together to develop the first comprehensive online catalog of the world’s plants. The massive project will include information about as many as 400,000 different plant species, and it will be available online for free in 2020. Read the rest of Leading Botanical Institutions Team Up To Produce Online Catalog of All Plants on Earth Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: botany , Climate Change , deforestation , endangered species , global warming , missouri botanical garden , new york botanical garden , Plant List , plants , Royal Botanic Garden , World Flora , world flora project

Read the original post: 
Leading Botanical Institutions Team Up To Produce Online Catalog of All Plants on Earth

6 Hard-to-Kill Plants for the Recovering Brown Thumb

Read the rest of 6 Hard-to-Kill Plants for the Recovering Brown Thumb Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: 6 Hard to Kill Plants for the Recovering Brown Thumb , costa farms , easy to care for plants , Gardening , hard to kill houseplants , hard to kill plants , houseplants , low maintenance plants , plants , plants of steel , plants that are hard to kill , plants that live a long time , urban gardening , what plants are hard to kill

Read more here: 
6 Hard-to-Kill Plants for the Recovering Brown Thumb

Kyocera Announces Plan for Japan’s Largest Solar Farm

Kyocera announced today that it will parter with two other companies to build Japan’s largest solar farm. Located on the southwestern island of Kyushu, the 70-megawatt

Read more here: 
Kyocera Announces Plan for Japan’s Largest Solar Farm

Next Page »