Created a glowing cotton

Scientists have created cotton that glow in the dark by growing it in such a way that the fluorescent molecules themselves are in its fibers. Details of the study can be found in the journal Science.

“Scientists are actively developing smart fabrics. In our experiment, a functional molecule weaves together with other building blocks such as glucose to form functional strands, ”said study author Philip Natalio.

Scientists have decided to add a special material to the water that the growing cotton is fed with, giving it the desired properties. The researchers found that by combining two molecules, one of which is naturally carried by plants into cells, and the other causes a glow, they will receive glowing plant fibers. Then from this fiber you can make a luminous fabric in the traditional way.

During the study, scientists grew cotton plants in water, and then collected their ovules, which were cultivated separately and fed with water containing a mixture of two molecules. After 20 days, the scientists picked cotton and tested it. The researchers found that approximately 5% of the molecules reached the fiber. This was enough for the cotton fibers to glow green when exposed to the fluorescent light.

According to the authors of the study, this process can be repeated with other materials made from bamboo or flax.

Source: indicator.ru