67 lines
2.5 KiB
Plaintext
67 lines
2.5 KiB
Plaintext
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(word processor parameters LM=1, RM=70, TM=2, BM=2)
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Taken from KeelyNet BBS (214) 324-3501
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Sponsored by Vangard Sciences
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PO BOX 1031
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Mesquite, TX 75150
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April 24, 1990
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Luminous Plants
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Green foliage gives off an invisible deep red - almost black -
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light detectable by sensitive IR equipment and films.
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This has been found to be one of the most fundamental processes of
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life and is directly associated with photosynthesis.
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The initial discovery was made by biologists at the Oak Ridge
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Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Commission while studying changes
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in a chemical known as adonesine triphosphate (ADT) in plants
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engaged in photosynthesis.
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Photosynthesis takes place in the presence of light and is the
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formation of starches and sugars from soil-held hydrogen and
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atmospheric carbon.
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Extracts from the bodies of fireflies give off a bright light when
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the chemical ADT is present. ADT is also an important source of
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energy in muscles.
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Chloroplasts, the parts of plants which carry out the
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photosynthesis process, give off light when mixed with firefly
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juice and illuminated.
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Surprisingly enough, they also found that living extracts of
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green plants give off a light of their own without any mixing.
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The light given off by the chloroplasts is now believed to be the
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exact opposite of the first chemical step in photosynthesis.
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Unstable chemical bonds are formed within the plant when light is
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absorbed by the chloroplasts. Small portions of these chemically
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induced compounds recombine to liberate energy that is eventually
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trapped by the chlorophyll molecule, which is the true radiator of
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the mysterious light.
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Leaves, if frozen while being exposed to illumination, will retain
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their light-producing ability for several months. In addition,
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certain extracts prepared from leaves being exposed to light
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contain substances which give off a bright light when certain
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chemicals are added to them.
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The material for this article comes from "The Strangest Things in
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the World" by Thomas R. Henry and published in 1958.
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