Scientists have made plants that glow in the dark. They want to make plants that can light up our lives. The scientists are from a university in the USA. They hope their plant lights could replace electric lights. Trees could produce light that could replace street lights. Lead author professor Michael Strano explained that his team wants to make light sources and help the environment. He said: "The vision is to make a plant that will function as a desk lamp - a lamp that you don't have to plug in. The light is…powered by the energy…of the plant itself."

The idea for the lighting plants came from fireflies. The researchers used the substance in fireflies that makes them glow. They put the substance into plant leaves to make them glow. The scientists made plants that glowed for nearly four hours. The research team tested the substance on spinach and watercress leaves. Professor Strano said: "Our target is to perform one treatment, when the plant is a seedling or a mature plant, and have it last for the lifetime of the plant." He said plant lights will be a part of our life. He said: "We think this is an idea whose time has come."