Scientists Can Now Detect Explosives with Spinach

The ability to detect bombs with spinach sounds like something out of a fantasy-driven science fiction novel. Nonetheless, there’s nothing fictional about this scientific feat. Through nanotechnology, MIT engineers were able to transform spinach into a bionic plant that can detect chemicals commonly found in explosive devices.

However, spinach isn’t unique when it comes to “super” qualities: engineers are working on altering a variety of plant species that can detect more than explosive devices. For now, the bionic plants could dominantly be used to detect activity related to terrorism, to hopefully prevent any acts of terror before they occur. As to everything a bionic plant could detect, though, it’s still unclear —  but it’s possible they could detect almost anything, since the plants require a supply of water and air. Theoretically they could detect any pollutants in the water supply, in addition to environmental changes, or even predict drought.

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How it Works

MIT engineers have added carbon nanotubes to spinach plants that allow the spinach to detect explosive devices through chemical sensors. Specifically, the plants can detect nitroaromatics, which are chemicals commonly found in landmines and other explosive devices. Since the plant is rooted in the soil, it will be able to detect any chemicals found in the groundwater. The roots then absorb the water and chemicals back to the plant. When certain chemicals are detected, the carbon nanotubes in the spinach will be able to “translate” the presence into a fluorescent signal. An infrared camera can then read this signal, and can instantly send this information to a computer device. It can even be sent to a smartphone, once the infrared filter is removed. Currently, bionic plants can only detect chemicals from about three feet away from the plant. Engineers are, naturally, looking to extend this distance.

Communicating with Plants

Essentially, bionic plants can help humans communicate with the plants and the earth. While this can help us to learn how chemicals and man-made elements affect the plants and our environment, it can also help us to understand plant health. We often use plants for our own benefit, whether in medicine, food, or skin care, for example. A better understanding of plants will help us (and them) to prosper. We may be able to create better medicines with the information we learn, or mightier superfoods. It could also help with learning more about climate change. With all of this in mind, the future of plant technology — and the health of our planet — certainly looks promising.