Red light therapy came about in the 1990s as a result of NASA's experimentation with LED technology for growing plants in space. When researchers noticed that cuts on the hands of astronauts working near the LED lights healed faster, they began to explore how red and near-infrared wavelengths can contribute to human cell repair. What began as a practical solution for growing plants in a low-light, low-gravity environment opened the door to a broader understanding of how light can interact with biological tissue at the cellular level.
Researchers have resurrected 'dead' bacterial cells by replacing their defunct DNA with the working genome of another species. This technique could open the door to re-engineered microbial life imbued with useful properties, such as the ability to make drugs or biofuels.
Red light therapy can help energize hair follicles, increase blood circulation in the scalp, reduce inflammation, and lower dihydrotestosterone levels-a hormone that causes hair loss and thinning. Red light therapy also supports adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which helps provide oxygen and blood flow to the scalp and triggers follicles to remain in the hair growth phase.