Completely out of left field, this story, but it turns out that you can use leaves as photographic paper, by using light and iodine to dye the starch in leaves dark.

Random? Well, yes, but it is a fun project, and the results are nothing short of stunning. How does it work?

The chlorophyll in healthy green leaves captures light and uses its energy to join together carbon dioxide and water. The result is the organic compound we call starch. It is the basis of much of the food we eat. Starch is white, but if you drop a small amount of a solution of iodine on it, the starch turns black. So that’s it really.

Why didn’t I think of that? Err, never mind. Go read the article and prepare to be amazed!

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