Here's a shocking fact (maybe not to those of you already scientifically minded): Trees are electric.
It's true. Scientists know that each individual tree generates a faint (we're talking 100 to 200 millivolts) electrical current. Recently, however, researchers have begun to figure out why and entrepreneurs have begun to harness that slight power in each tree -- multiplied by millions.
The why: MIT scientists say the small electrical current comes from the pH imbalance between the tree and the soil it occupies, according to Onearth, a National Resources Defense Council magazine.
And a company called Voltree, working with the U.S. Forest Service, is developing an "electricity generation system that harvests metabolic energy from the trees themselves and converts it to usable power."
The electricity would power sensors -- now run by battery -- that alert officials to a forest fire.
So, what could this have to do with Ohio?
Hard to say for sure, but we have a lot of trees and we're getting greener all the time.
Remember we told you last year that forest coverage in Ohio is now more than 31 percent, more than double from the 1940s. (Go here to see a nifty graphical depiction of that 70-year growth.)
Now, think about harnessing all that tree power . . . and let your eco-imagination go wild.
Ohio has most 'Tree Cities': Think we're exaggerating the thing Ohio has for trees?
Not a chance: The Buckeye State (named after a tree, see?) now has a 28-year streak as the state with the most Tree City USA communities, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
We had 249 Tree Cities last year, well ahead of states chasing us like Illinois (191) and Wisconsin (177).
Go to arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/map.cfm to see all the Tree City USA communities in Ohio and elsewhere.
Click and plant: We're trailing in another tree race, but there's a way to increase the number of trees in Ohio -- one mouse click at a time.
Odwalla, the California fruit juice and food bar company has put up $100,000 to buy and plant new trees in state parks in 11 states -- and you can decide where they go.
Unfortunately, 80,000 trees have already been spoken for and most of the other states are leaving us behind: Only 1,420 trees (including one by this columnist) have been set aside for Ohio, while states like Michigan (41,000) and Virginia (22,000) lead the way.
Still, you can go to parkvisitor.com/odwalla/ to plant a tree in Ohio (only 1 per Web site visitor while they last), to see the state rankings or just to learn more about the Plant a Tree program (and some interesting tree facts).
What tree is that? Speaking of trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is offering a free online (or $5 for the printed, full-color version) tree identification tool.
"What Tree Is That?" features hand-drawn botanical illustrations highlighting the specific characteristics of tree species throughout the continental United States, including Ohio.
To order the print version, go to arborday.org or mail in your name and address and $5 for each guide to What Tree Is That?, Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE 68410.