OpenAlex · 2026-07-01
Scientists used a structured forecasting tool called a 'futures wheel' to explore what would happen if genetically engineered, glow-in-the-dark trees were deployed as a public light and energy source, particularly in areas vulnerable to power outages from disasters or political instability.
An interdisciplinary futures wheel analysis identified cascading second- and third-order consequences of deploying bioluminescent trees at scale in urban and disaster-prone environments.
The scenario was framed as a response to increasing power outages caused by natural disasters and political instability, positioning bioengineered trees as a potential decentralized energy/light alternative.
The study bridges bio-art and biotechnology, suggesting that speculative design frameworks can productively guide early-stage assessment of radical green-infrastructure technologies before they are technically feasible.
