Hands on learning!

One of our department's claims to fame is that students get a hands on approach to learning with the most up-to-date equipment. Yesterday, I borrowed a $85,000 photosynthesis monitoring system to allow students to determine how plants react to low atmospheric CO2 levels (i.e. prior to the Industrial Revolution - ~200), current CO2 levels (~400), and high CO2 levels (~800; possibly the levels in the atmosphere at the end of this century).

The glow (DDW's Oct 22nd challenge) comes from the light source in the chamber. In an experiment the bean leaf would be clamped inside the chamber, but then you wouldn't see the glow...