Bioluminal Lighting in Arcpunk Metropolises
In the world of Arcpunk, neither electricity nor natural gas serves as an energy source. While in theory it would be possible to power gas lamps using H², the sheer amount of H² required for the 24/7 lighting typical of many cities - such as Bangaloi - would be so immense that even if the entire volume of imports consisted solely of H², the city likely still couldn’t be fully supplied. Moreover, Metropolites (Chunks made up entirely of one massive city) would suffocate within days. Not to mention the extreme fire hazard.
Instead, cities rely on a highly specialized biological lighting system based on luminous microorganisms.
Functionality:
The microorganisms emit light when digesting certain nutrients. This light is bioluminescent and typically has a greenish-yellow glow, which gives the cities their distinctive color palette. While it is technically possible to alter the light’s tone using filters like colored glass, this significantly reduces the lamp's brightness - so such modifications are generally avoided.
The organisms reside in lamp-like structures that functionally resemble aquariums - filled with a liquid colloquially known as "glow soup."
To ensure city-wide distribution, a network of pipes runs through the entire urban area, transporting the glow soup and its nutrients into all districts. Pump stations regularly infuse the liquid with fresh nutrient solution to keep the microorganisms active and glowing. The system is similar to a water supply network, but it's entirely dedicated to maintaining the city’s lamps.
Societal and Aesthetic Impact
Urban Landscape:
In poorer or poorly maintained districts, leaks in the pipeline system are common, leading to the formation of glowing puddles. These contribute to a distinctive, grimy-organic atmosphere reminiscent of the aesthetic seen in subaquatic scifi.
Light Inequality:
The farther a lamp is from the central supply station, the dimmer it glows. Since light hubs are rarely built in low-income districts, these areas are quite literally darker and more dangerous. However, private homes and clubs can operate their own lamps and "feed" them individually, which has led to a new kind of status symbol: the brightness of one's personal spaces.
Safety Factor:
In cities with higher oxygen levels, using gas-based lamps would be extremely dangerous. The use of microorganisms thus represents a fire-safe lighting solution that has become well-established over generations.
Sabotage:
Though rare, attacks on the municipal lighting system do occur. In these cases, perpetrators inject toxins into the network to kill the microorganisms. If detected by the city wardens, they quickly sever the return flow, resulting in a localized blackout for the affected district. The fluid must then be drained and the pipes thoroughly cleaned - a process that can take weeks. Residents are forced to rely on their own lamps during this time.
One might assume this would be an effective way to sabotage the luxury estates of the wealthy, but those typically have independent and often decentralized lighting systems, with well-protected lamps and lanterns - precisely for such reasons.
Many lamps can function perfectly well without any internal flow, but they then require separate nutrient supply. In contrast, the central municipal system operates exactly like a water supply: through pipes in which the luminous medium flows. This not only eliminates the need to maintain each lamp individually, but the movement of the liquid also stimulates the microorganisms to emit a stronger glow.
However, over the course of several weeks, more and more microorganisms settle on the glass surfaces, forming an increasingly thick film. Therefore, the lamps must be cleaned from time to time. This is done either manually or by adding labettes to the fluid - organisms that consume the biofilm from the surfaces.