It may sound like something out of a futuristic science fiction film, but scientists have managed to engineer spinach plants which are capable of sending emails.
When the spinach roots detect the presence of nitroaromatics in groundwater, a compound often found in explosives like landmines, the carbon nanotubes within the plant leaves emit a signal. This signal is then read by an infrared camera, sending an email alert to the scientists.
This experiment is part of a wider field of research which involves engineering electronic components and systems into plants. The technology is known as “plant nanobionics”, and is effectively the process of giving plants new abilities.
“Plants are very good analytical chemists,” explains Professor Michael Strano who led the research. “They have an extensive root network in the soil, are constantly sampling groundwater, and have a way to self-power the transport of that water up into the leaves.”
“This is a novel demonstration of how we have overcome the plant/human communication barrier,” he adds.
Read more at Euro News.
{Matzav.com}
What happens to you when you eat this spinach? Do you emit emails when you think?
Everyone knows that when you eat the spinach, your biceps triple in size, you knock the bad guy clear out of town, and you launch into the last verse of an ungrammatical song.
I spam spinach as I wouldn’t want to be under scientists’ observation from their emails.
Reminds me of Popeye the sailor man.
Windy today.
Good vigor. Nu?