Science & Technology

Bionic spinach is able to detect explosives

By T.K. Randall
November 1, 2016

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) As part of a new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, scientists implanted tiny carbon nanotubes in to the leaves of spinach plants, thus enabling them to pick up nitro-aromatics - a chemical found in landmines and other types of explosives.

After around ten minutes, the researchers shone a laser on to the leaves, prompting the nanotubes to emit a near-infrared fluorescent light which could be picked up by an infrared camera."Our paper outlines how one could engineer plants like this to detect virtually anything," said co-author Prof Michael Strano. "The plants could be used for defence applications, but also to monitor public spaces for terrorism related activities, since we show both water and airborne detection."

"Such plants could be used to monitor groundwater seepage from buried munitions or waste that contains nitro-aromatics."

Source: BBC News

Tags: Spinach, Bomb, Bionic