Project Wally

A Brief from Project Wally:

Imagine a city that is verdant and full of fresh, clean air. Walking and cycling is the primary mode of transport. And there are no wires or screens anywhere. It’s the age of ambient computing.

Now, also imagine that this wireless power comes from a living tree that is a hub for computing and power, running on photosynthesis. Its only waste product is pure, clean, 02. Oxygen.

The concept of combining technology with biology, specifically integrating computers with trees or plants to harness photosynthesis, is a fascinating and speculative area of study. While vision hasn’t been realized in practice yet, several related ideas and research projects have explored the intersection of biology and technology:

1. Plant-E: A company in the Netherlands has developed a system where plants generate electricity. As plants undergo photosynthesis, they release organic matter into the soil, which is consumed by microorganisms. This process releases electrons, which can be harvested as electricity.**Bio-photovoltaics**: Researchers have explored the concept of using photosynthetic organisms like algae and certain bacteria in combination with electronic components to convert solar energy into electricity. This is different from traditional photovoltaic cells in that it uses living organisms to capture sunlight.

2. Cyborg Plants: Some researchers have integrated electronic components into plants, turning them into cyborg-like entities. For instance, embedding sensors in plants to monitor their health and environmental conditions.

3. Biocomputing: This is a broader field where biological processes are used to perform computational tasks. DNA computing, for instance, uses the properties of DNA molecules to store and process information.

However, creating a full-fledged computer that runs solely on photosynthesis is still a concept and not a reality. The energy produced by photosynthesis is relatively small, and modern computers require significant power. But as both biological and technological research advances, we might see more integrations of this nature in the future.

Project Wally is one of our six initiatives inside Singular XQ. Project Wally researches, designs, engineers, and dreams our more equitable and sustainable world into existence.