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Plant 'takes' botanical world's first selfie in London Zoo experiment | |
(about 16 hours later) | |
A plant has taken the botanical world's first selfie, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). | A plant has taken the botanical world's first selfie, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). |
Trials involving a maidenhair fern called Pete saw it "take" photographs of itself every 20 seconds, using the waste energy it had generated. | Trials involving a maidenhair fern called Pete saw it "take" photographs of itself every 20 seconds, using the waste energy it had generated. |
Scientists said the ability of shade-loving plants to produce low-levels of energy to supply fuel cells would revolutionise wildlife monitoring. | Scientists said the ability of shade-loving plants to produce low-levels of energy to supply fuel cells would revolutionise wildlife monitoring. |
The technology could help scientists learn more about remote rainforests. | The technology could help scientists learn more about remote rainforests. |
The ultimate aim is to use plants to power camera traps and sensors in the wild. | The ultimate aim is to use plants to power camera traps and sensors in the wild. |
Earlier this year, ZSL scientists installed microbial fuel cells at London Zoo's Rainforest Life exhibit, which would power a plant to take its own picture. | Earlier this year, ZSL scientists installed microbial fuel cells at London Zoo's Rainforest Life exhibit, which would power a plant to take its own picture. |
A microbial fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the action of microorganisms, in this case found in the soil. | A microbial fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the action of microorganisms, in this case found in the soil. |
How plant energy is captured | How plant energy is captured |
ZSL's conservation technology specialist Al Davies said: "Plants naturally deposit bio-matter as they grow, which in turn feeds the natural bacteria present in the soil, creating energy that can be harnessed by fuel cells and used to power a wide range of vital conservation tools remotely, including sensors, monitoring platforms and camera traps." | ZSL's conservation technology specialist Al Davies said: "Plants naturally deposit bio-matter as they grow, which in turn feeds the natural bacteria present in the soil, creating energy that can be harnessed by fuel cells and used to power a wide range of vital conservation tools remotely, including sensors, monitoring platforms and camera traps." |
What is particularly significant is the ability to derive and capture energy from plants living in areas of reduced sunlight, he added. | |
"Most power sources have limits - batteries must be replaced while solar panels rely on a source of sunlight - but plants can survive in the shade, naturally moving into position to maximise the potential of absorbing sunlight, meaning the potential for plant-powered energy is pretty much limitless," Mr Davies said. | |
A single fuel cell can generate 0.1 milliwatts of power. The trial used cells connected together to take a photo every 20 seconds. | |
ZSL said the technology had the potential to monitor inhospitable and remote rainforest locations to record key data such as temperature, humidity and plant growth - all of which are crucial to the understanding of threats such as climate change and habitat loss. | ZSL said the technology had the potential to monitor inhospitable and remote rainforest locations to record key data such as temperature, humidity and plant growth - all of which are crucial to the understanding of threats such as climate change and habitat loss. |
It aims to run a second trial in the wild. | |
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