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Old 08-10-2009, 11:50 PM   #1 (permalink)
BadPun
 
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Bananas Brindando Time to Break Out the Black Light and Kiss Posters?

I dunno if any of y'all had read this before, but apparently bananas (not green) fluoresce when exposed to UV light... ultimate rave snack eh?

A publication in Angewandte Chemie by Moser et al. (2008)

mentions a recent and surprising finding. Ripe bananas exhibit a blue fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet(UV) light (Black light). This property has been overlooked for a long time. Green bananas do not show any sign of fluorescence. The cause is attributed by the authors to the degradation of chlorophyll giving rise to the accumulation of a fluorescent product in the skin of the fruit. The chlorophyll breakdown product is stabilized by a propionate ester group. Banana-tree leaves also fluoresce in the same way. A possible consequence in nature is that animals capable of seeing in the UV spectrum would also be able to more quickly detect the ripened fruits.



Amazing the random stuff you learn when cruising the internet eh? I hope that none of the bananavores in my area can see in the UV spectrum ROFL

Banana: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article
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