World’s First Plant Selfie Snapped at London Zoo

Pete the fern has taken the world's first plant-powered selfie (via ZSL)

A fern called Pete has taken the world’s first plant-powered selfie.

The maidenhair fern, part of a scientific trial at London Zoo, is snapping photos of itself “at an astonishing rate,” the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said.

“Seeing Pete’s first selfie was an incredible moment for the ZSL team, who have spent months monitoring and supporting his growth,” conservation technology specialist Al Davies said in a statement.

Earlier this year, ZSL scientists installed microbial fuel cells at London Zoo’s Rainforest Life exhibit.

The idea was to power a plant to take its own picture, with the ultimate goal of using sprouts to power camera traps and sensors in the wild.

“Plants naturally deposit biomatter as they grow,” Davies explained. “Which in turn feeds the natural bacteria present in the soil, creating energy that can be harnessed by fuel cells and used to power a range of vital conservation tools remotely, including sensors.”

This scientific trial could revolutionise field conservation (via ZSL)

While most power sources have limits—batteries must be replaced, solar panels require sunshine—plants can survive in the shade, naturally growing toward a source of light.

“Meaning the potential for plant-powered energy is pretty much limitless,” Davies added.

The solution, enabled by ultra-low-powered technology from U.S. firm Xnor.ai, works around the clock on any device, while consuming such insignificant amounts of energy it can be activated by a small plant.

Researchers hope to put it to use monitoring inhospitable and remote rainforest locations, where it can record key data like temperature, humidity, and plant growth—key to understanding climate change and habitat loss.

“We’ve quite literally plugged in to nature to help protect the world’s wildlife,” Davies said. “Pete has surpassed our expectations and is currently taking a photo every 20 seconds. “He’s been working so well we’ve even accidentally photobombed him a few times.”

Nestled among the residents of Rainforest Life, visitors can see Pete in action at London Zoo this month.

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