Light

Light is all around us – from fireflies glowing in the garden to the screens in our pockets. In this illuminating episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores how scientists are developing more sustainable ways to produce light and color, including bioluminescent glow sticks and next-generation display technologies. Join guest expert Paige Whitehead, co-founder and CEO of LUX BIO, on her fascinating journey developing an alternative to traditional glow sticks which can cause harm to the environment if damaged. She explains how her team is replacing the chemical components used in ordinary glow sticks using bioluminescence. Their enzyme-based glow sticks provide a more sustainable option for applications ranging from commercial fishing and emergency lighting to mining and search-and-rescue operations. Dr. Richard Frantz, chemist and Head of R&D for BASF’s display business unit, takes us inside modern screens and explains how light-conversion materials can make displays bright, colorful and more energy-efficient. While conventional quantum dots often contain heavy metals, BASF’s QDYES™ technology uses organic molecules instead, offering a recyclable alternative for high-performance displays without restricted heavy metals. In next month’s episode of the SUBSTANCE podcast, we turn up the volume with a closer look at sound. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. More about this episode and our guest expert: basf.com/substance-podcast https://www.luxbio.ca/about SUBSTANCE is a podcast by BASF, produced by TERRITORY Agency, in collaboration with Wake Word and Joe Hanson. Research and scripting by Claudia Doyle, Stefan Rommel and Joe Hanson.