Friday, April 16, 2010

Lighting Up Leaves

Science Friday: Leaves have an intricate web of veins that transport nutrients and water and provide structural support. But what determines the pattern of venation? Physicists Marcelo Magnasco and Eleni Katifori, of The Rockefeller University, investigated this question using sophisticated algorithms and a little glow-in-the-dark dye.

2 comments:

  1. Very cool.
    We should feed a plant glow in the dark water next trip.

    I only miss the simulation. I want a screensaver that grows leaves. Or at least the model to make my own app. Should check his papers.

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  2. It would indeed be amazing to find a houseplant that is tolerant to this dye and then place a blacklight near it.

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