A plant that glows when thirsty

[Ouchyfish]

A plant that glows when thirsty

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Some people like to talk to their plants. Now, students at Singapore Polytechnic say they have created a plant that can communicate with people -- by glowing when it needs water.
The students said Tuesday that they have genetically modified a plant using a green fluorescent marker gene from jellyfish, so that it "lights up" when it is stressed as a result of dehydration.

The light is hard to detect with the naked eye but can be seen using an optical sensor developed in collaboration with students at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

The development of such plants could help farmers to develop more efficient irrigation of crops.

[kaharthemad]

need to make one that shouts "HEY MOTHERFUCKER I AM THIRTSY BITCH"

[Jimmy Durante]

That's incredible. I wonder if they could do something similar with infants.

[Ouchyfish]

[Tuggan]

great, hopefully the seeds are all fucked up too and we can screw the ecosystem up even more when this mutant plant spreads its seed.

[Martrae]

I actually agree with Tuggan on this. Why do people feel that changing things is always better?

[Jimmy Durante]

I take it you're not looking forward to the day you can step out of your house to fetch the mail and be promptly slain by Ents?

[Martrae]

Not really

[Harrison]

It would add some needed excitement to a boring U.S. life.