Buzz
Imagine a garden that shifts its palette daily. A Colorado company is working on a petunia that transitions from pink to blue and back, syncing with the sun's natural cycle.
“We’re gardeners and we thought, ‘A color-changing flower? That would be pretty sweet to have in the garden,’” says Keira Havens, the CEO of Revolution Bioengineering. She and her partner Nikolai Braun are raising funds via an Indiegogo campaign to develop a unique flower named “Petunia Circadia.”
“All plants have circadian rhythms, much like humans and animals, where they align with the sun,” Havens explains. In the “Petunia Circadia,” the flower’s pigment molecules will be tied to this daily rhythm, enabling it to shift colors approximately every 12 hours autonomously.
This may seem like science fiction, but it’s closer to reality than you think. Havens and Braun have already developed a petunia that shifts from white to red on command when exposed to beer. Why beer? Ethanol triggers the color change, and alcohol is a rich source of it. “It’s a simple molecule to work with and widely available,” Havens explains. “The goal was to create something accessible to everyone.” These beer-responsive flowers are a reward for Indiegogo backers. A $42 pledge earns you one plant, with more contributions yielding additional plants. They arrive white and, after a drop of beer, turn red within 24 hours, staying that way for about a week or until watered with plain water. The only catch? Shipping won’t begin until spring 2017.
These color-changing blooms symbolize a broader mission: increasing awareness about genetic engineering and reducing the stigma surrounding it. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are often controversial, which Havens believes hinders valuable research. For instance, she resorted to Indiegogo for funding because horticultural companies avoided the GMO controversy. “There’s an unnecessary fear around GMOs,” she says. “People are confused about what the technology is, what it does, and its potential. It’s a tool that can be used for anything, and we want to create beautiful things with it.” She envisions biotechnology enabling flowers with new scents or polka-dotted petals in the future.
Revolution Bioengineering is collaborating with British artist and designer Helen Storey to design a dress featuring the color-changing flowers, set to debut in London next summer. “It will serve as a commentary and spark conversations about how society’s actions affect nature and how nature, in turn, can inspire society,” Havens says.
The campaign has raised approximately $18,400 so far, with a significant distance to cover to meet its $75,000 target by April 9.
