https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161101104731.htm
QuoteSpinach is no longer just a superfood: By embedding leaves with carbon nanotubes, MIT engineers have transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay that information to a handheld device similar to a smartphone.
This is one of the first demonstrations of engineering electronic systems into plants, an approach that the researchers call "plant nanobionics."
"The goal of plant nanobionics is to introduce nanoparticles into the plant to give it non-native functions," says Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT and the leader of the research team.
In this case, the plants were designed to detect chemical compounds known as nitroaromatics, which are often used in landmines and other explosives. When one of these chemicals is present in the groundwater sampled naturally by the plant, carbon nanotubes embedded in the plant leaves emit a fluorescent signal that can be read with an infrared camera. The camera can be attached to a small computer similar to a smartphone, which then sends an email to the user.
I like this future!
That 's really awesome, I wonder what sensitivity it gives, and what other compounds they can be trained to for sensitivity, could potentially be used for all kinds of contaminations.
I wonder if the spinach is edible? Article didn't mention one way or another.
Quote from: Faust on November 02, 2016, 12:45:11 PM
That 's really awesome, I wonder what sensitivity it gives, and what other compounds they can be trained to for sensitivity, could potentially be used for all kinds of contaminations.
There's all kinds of tsa related jokes here.
Quote from: Faust on November 02, 2016, 12:45:11 PM
That 's really awesome, I wonder what sensitivity it gives, and what other compounds they can be trained to for sensitivity, could potentially be used for all kinds of contaminations.
Hypothetically, you could create strains that are sensitive to just about any molecule. This could get super interesting!
Quote from: Q. G. Pennyworth on November 02, 2016, 01:25:14 PM
I wonder if the spinach is edible? Article didn't mention one way or another.
An edible garden of bomb-sniffing spinach would be interesting. Probably useless, but interesting.
In the grounds around manufacturing you could spot leaks in waste or as a cheap way of detecting contaminants in drinking water. Specifically I'm thinking of the fracking fears and the groundwater contamination.
If they can be trained with more sophisticated particles you could get a cheap Cryptosporidium detector, which has been elusive as fuck.
If it is fast acting, and good sensitivity it could potentially be an early warning system.
"Quick kids the spinach sentry is fluorescing, get to the car, don't worry about grandma, she's already dead."
The only thing I would be worried about is introducing carbon nanotubes into the food cycle, slugs are bad enough without them excreting bullet proof armour.
Quote from: Faust on November 02, 2016, 03:45:05 PM
In the grounds around manufacturing you could spot leaks in waste or as a cheap way of detecting contaminants in drinking water. Specifically I'm thinking of the fracking fears and the groundwater contamination.
If they can be trained with more sophisticated particles you could get a cheap Cryptosporidium detector, which has been elusive as fuck.
If it is fast acting, and good sensitivity it could potentially be an early warning system.
"Quick kids the spinach sentry is fluorescing, get to the car, don't worry about grandma, she's already dead."
The only thing I would be worried about is introducing carbon nanotubes into the food cycle, slugs are bad enough without them excreting bullet proof armour.
I don't know that the roots are deep enough for them to be especially useful for that. Contaminant flumes tend to go down into the soil, especially if it's sandy or gravelly, and then disperse downgrade, but below the topsoil.
Trees would be good, though. Something fast-growing, like alder.
Cyborg lettuce...
Robot Popeye (1961) Episode 203- Popeye Cartoon Episode Guide
Brutus purchases a robot which looks like Popeye, and uses it to sabotage Popeye's relationships and reputation. He tricks Olive into getting mad at Popeye so that he can get a date with her. Popeye catches on and proves to Olive that it was a robot.
source: https://www.bcdb.com/cartoon-story/52643-Robot-Popeye (https://www.bcdb.com/cartoon-story/52643-Robot-Popeye)
Quote from: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on November 02, 2016, 03:49:20 PM
Trees would be good, though. Something fast-growing, like alder.
This should spur research into developing wood-loving mushrooms with a soft-spot for nano-tubes <g>
Fuck man, that's amazing. Plant this stuff along streams with sensors meant to pick up pollutants, plant it near homes with sensors to detect lead, there are so many uses for this!
i want a small travel-sized herb that can detect farts and point its leaves at whodunnit.
No more blame game bullshit!
When do the police replace drug dogs with potted plants?
When do schools begin bringing plants into the hallways and classrooms that can smell both drugs and gunpowder?
When do they start making bombs that trigger when an attached plant detects a specific persons unique body odor?
When will we see public restrooms with plants that detect the odor of poo and trigger release of aerosol deodorant or perfume?
How about smoke detectors that you have to remember to water instead of changing the battery.
Or maybe eventually medical diagnostic houseplants, simply urinate into the pot and the assortment of plants detects a variety of potential issues and the result is printed to the small LCD display on the side of the pot.
This could have a damn lot of uses.
Oh yeah I definitely want all plant life to be weaponized by the powers that be
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What's wrong with that planet is that I can still trust a tree to have my back
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:eek: :aaa: That's fucking boss.
Oh hai. :fnord:
Quote from: Q. G. Pennyworth on November 02, 2016, 01:25:14 PM
I wonder if the spinach is edible? Article didn't mention one way or another.
Technically yes, but the resulting sharts will actually tear your shorts. It's not a good look.