Children

Dino Pet living night light to teach kids about bioluminescence

View 8 Images
Dino Pet is a clear plastic dinosaur filled with bioluminescent algae that glow in the dark, so it can act as night light as well as a fun learning tool
The designers have made 3D-printed prototypes that are mostly enclosed, but the final version of the container will have a non-leaking port to add nutrients or refill it with more algae
For an extra $20, backers will also receive an illustrated childrens book that explains the process of bioluminescence
Dino Pet is a clear plastic dinosaur filled with bioluminescent algae that glow in the dark, so it can act as night light as well as a fun learning tool
To produce its living night light, Yonder Biology first developed a method for growing about 300 liters (79 gallons) of dinoflagellates each year, which ensures it can maintain a steady supply
The company recently launched a Kickstarter to raise the US$50,000 needed to begin manufacturing the Dino Pet container and mass-producing enough dinoflagellates to meet the demand
The company recently launched a Kickstarter to raise the US$50,000 needed to begin manufacturing the Dino Pet container and mass-producing enough dinoflagellates to meet the demand
The Dino Pet gets its glow from the Pyrocystis fusiformis species of marine algae, which emit a blue light for a short time when shaken in the dark
Dino Pet is a clear plastic dinosaur filled with bioluminescent algae that glow in the dark, so it can act as night light as well as a fun learning tool
View gallery - 8 images

Yonder Biology, a company typically known for making colorful prints based on a person's DNA, is aiming to teach children about biology with its latest mixture of art and science. The company's new Dino Pet is a clear plastic dinosaur filled with bioluminescent algae that glow in the dark, so it can act as night light as well as a fun learning tool.

It may be shaped like a cartoonish Apatosaurus, but the original inspiration for the Dino Pet's name comes from the dinoflagellates it contains. Specifically, this interactive toy gets its glow from the Pyrocystis fusiformis species of marine algae, which when shaken emit a blue light for a short time. A bottle of algae may sound like a strange pet, but the designers have noted that the dinoflagellates are especially suited to children, since they're easy to take care of, non-toxic, and will even glow brighter to indicate when they're being properly cared for.

To produce its living night light, Yonder Biology first developed a method for growing about 300 liters (79 US gal) of dinoflagellates each year, which ensures it can maintain a steady supply. The company also settled on a polyethylene-based plastic for the container, which the designers found produced the sharpest glowing effect. Each Dino Pet has a volume of about 500 ml (17 oz), which can hold a mixture of dinoflagellates, salt water, and nutrients. The designers have made 3D-printed prototypes that are mostly enclosed, but the final version of the container will have a non-leaking port for adding nutrients or refilling it with more algae.

The designers have made 3D-printed prototypes that are mostly enclosed, but the final version of the container will have a non-leaking port to add nutrients or refill it with more algae

Caring for the Dino Pet is simple enough for a child to manage while learning about bioluminescence in the process. The dinoflagellates just need need to be left in a room with either a low-watt bulb or indirect sunlight for about 10-12 hours and kept at a temperature between 65 and 75° F (18 to 24° C). With just light, they'll usually have a lifespan of one to three months, but this can be extended indefinitely by adding nutrients (or Dino Food) to the container and regularly changing the water. Yonder Biology plans to sell the Dino Food for US$10 per liter, which should be enough to keep the algae fed for four to six months.

The company recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the US$50,000 needed to begin manufacturing the Dino Pet container and mass-producing enough dinoflagellates to meet the expected demand. Anyone who contributes $40 or more can sign up to receive one of their own Dino Pets, which are expected to ship in April 2014. To make sure the dinoflagellates survive the trip, the company will ship them through an expedited mail service and has offered to replace any orders that do not arrive alive and well for free. For an extra $20, backers will also receive an illustrated children's book that explains the process of bioluminescence.

For now though, you can watch the video below to see how the first Dino Pet was created.

Source: Kickstarter, Yonder Biology

View gallery - 8 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
3 comments
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really cool. It is also green since it does not use electricity.
Expanded Viewpoint
But the plastic the container is made of needs LOTS of electricity from a petroleum/coal/natural gas burning generator to be processed, and then electricity from the same power plant(s) is needed to run the machinery that will make the molds to form the plastic and then even more of it will be needed to process the algae containing water too and of course the food for the algae. So now just how is this "green"?? And I guess that the power needed to ship these toys after packaging them up is going to come out of the aether, so we don't have to factor that into the equation, right?
Randy
Mason Miller
Shut up, it's cool.
And besides, everything else is manufactured. This just happens to be something that is filled with bioluminescent algae.