Spotted salamander first solar-powered vertebrate discovered

[xchrom]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/18/spotted-salamander-first-solar-powered-vertebrate-discovered/



While scientists have known about multiple animals that can turn sunlight into energy, they haven’t been sure that any vertebrate could do so — until now.

As far back as 1888, a biologist found that the eggs of a spotted salamander contained a kind of green algae, but now firm evidence now exists that the animal is powered by the sun, reported the New Scientist and according to research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

The process takes place inside the eggs.

Scientists in 2011 found that the algae was not only present inside the eggs, but inside the embryonic cells themselves. The theory, which proved correct, was that the algae, through photosynthesis, used sunlight to trigger a chemical reaction combining water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose, or sugar, that the embryo used for fuel.

[dipsydoodle]

1. When I was Austria for 6 weeks in 1959

the locals reckoned you tell whether or not it was going to rain dependent on if the salamanders in the forest were pointing towards the lake or the mountains. Pretty little things.

[xchrom]

2. i love 'em. they always liked to live in my compost pile in cali. nt

[drm604]

3. This is also cool: "The solar-powered electric hornet"

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19709-zoologger-the-solarpowered-electric-hornet.html

The hornet can definitely transform solar radiation into electricity, as shining light on the cuticle generates a small voltage.

[xchrom]

4. +1

[NickB79]

5. Reminds me of a sci-fi story

But then, so does most of what we're doing or discovering today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Leopard_Plague

It is based on the idea of a genetically engineered virus that allows people to photosynthesize food, leading the world to a post-scarcity society, where there are no more food shortages.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Thanks, I haven't kept up with WJW.

Wish there were some 'real' bookstores in my area.

(Not the first story in which humans could photosynthesize, by a long shot.)