Overview
- Magicpen Bio says it has edited genes in more than 20 species such as orchids, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums to make them emit visible light.
- Researchers inserted light-producing DNA from fireflies and bioluminescent fungi into plant cells, creating living specimens that glow without electricity.
- The team publicly showed the softly glowing flowers at the Zhongguancun Forum, presenting an ambient effect closer to a nightlight than a streetlamp.
- Founder Li Renhan pitches uses in parks and tourism as plants that need only water and fertilizer, with hopes of saving energy and reshaping night spaces.
- Earlier work set the stage, from MIT’s nanoparticle-lit watercress in 2018 to phosphor-injected succulents in 2025 and Light Bio’s USDA-approved Firefly Petunia in 2024.