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Let bacteria light the way! Glow-in-the-dark microbes could replace electricity to illuminate shops and power street lights

Bacteria from squid use bioluminescence to light up the darkness
The firm uses clear cases containing a gel of the bacteria and their food
Clear during the day, at night the cases emit a soft blue-green glow
Glowee said its product could potentially be used for shopfronts, installations and even to light up city buildings

Published: 08:17 EST, 3 March 2016 | Updated: 09:20 EST, 3 March 2016

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Imagine walking through the city at night with shops and buildings bathed in an eerie blue-green glow.

That's the vision of French startup Glowee, which promises to use glowing bacteria rather than electricity to light up the darkness.

The Paris-based firm claims its glow-in-the-dark bacteria can help to curb light pollution, reduce electricity demand and make shops and advertising more visible at night.

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French startup company Glowee offers patches which use glowing bacteria, promising to use bioluminesence rather than electricity to light up the darkness (concept image pictured)

Glowee launched its first product after a successful demonstration in December in the form of a light which glows for up to three days.

Originally taken from squid found in Hawaii, the Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria are able to light up thanks to a chemical process called bioluminescence.

The tiny organisms use enzymes to break down a compound called luciferin, releasing energy in the form of a blue-green glow.

The firm explains that it uses transparent cases filled with a gel of the bacteria and its food – mainly sugar and oxygen – to create its living night lights.

As the transparent cases can take any shape, the living lights could soon lend their bioluminescence to everything from statues to shop fronts and even prominent buildings (concept image)

And because the bacteria are non-toxic and non-pathogenic, they are harmless, said the company.

The transparent cases can take any shape and stick to surfaces, so the living lights could lend their bioluminescence to everything from statues to shop fronts and even prominent buildings.

THE LIVING NIGHT LIGHTS

Glowee uses transparent cases filled with a gel of the bacteria and its food – mainly sugar and oxygen – to create its living night lights.

The bacteria are non-toxic and non-pathogenic, so they are harmless.

Originally taken from bobtail squid found in Hawaii, the Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria are able to light up thanks to bioluminescence.

They use enzymes to break down a compound called luciferin and release energy.

As the transparent cases can take any shape, the living lights could soon lend their bioluminescence to everything from statues to shop fronts and even prominent buildings.

A video produced by the startup demonstrates one of its cases stuck to a window, with the bacteria clear in the daylight, but glowing at night.

'Glowee uses luminescent natural properties of living organisms to light without consuming energy,' the firm said.

'These bioluminescent stickers to stick on infinite forms shop windows.'

'Our goal is to change the way we produce and use light,' Glowee Founder Sandra Rey told New Scientist.

'We want to offer a global solution that will reduce the 19 per cent of electricity consumption used to produce light.'

But in addition to reducing the amount of electricity consumed by buildings at night, the approach could even help to get around current restrictions on night-time lighting.

The product is the first commercially available bioluminescent light to hit the market and is being primarily aimed at shops.

Legislation in the startup's home country bans lighting in shop windows between the hours of 1am and 7am.

But as the bioluminescent glow is much softer than harsh electric light, it could offer a solution for shops and brands wanting to be seen in the small hours.

Glowee use a bioluminescent bacteria taken from bobtail squid found in Hawaii (pictured). The Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria light up thanks to a chemical process called bioluminescence, in which enzymes break down a compound called luciferin, releasing energy in the form of a blue-green glow

In a video produced by the startup, it demonstrates one of its cases stuck to a window, with the bacteria clear in the daylight, but glowing at night. Still pictured

The firm has already exceeded its crowdfunding target on French site ulule, raising more than £32,000 ($45,000).

One of the biggest barriers faced to date has been that in their enclosed space, the bacteria run through their nutrients and fill the gel with waste products, giving the lights a lifespan of days.

However, the ambitious startup plans to launch a commercial product lasting for a month by 2017, as well as developing bacteria which can deal with a wider range of temperature variations.

Future cities could see more an more of this approach to lighting as governments come under increasing pressure to reduce emissions against growing energy consumption.

One such approach has been carried out in Cambridge, where engineers have already laid glow in the dark bicycle paths.

Surrey-based Pro-Teq surfacing created a 'Starpath' to guide cyclists along at night. The sprayed-on coating is clear during the day, but as the daylight fades it begins to glow blue as it reacts to ambient light.