The relationship between humans and plants has long been a subject of interest from scientists. Recent studies have found positive effects of this connection. More specifically, one study, for example, found that far fewer crimes are committed in greener areas of the city. In another experiment, it was found that workers were 15 percent more productive when their offices and workplaces were decorated with plants. The researchers decided to take the next step by looking at the actual composition of the plants and trying to get them to perform certain, in some cases even very unusual, functions.
Plant nanobiotics - what is it?
For example, you can mark a plant with sensors on its leaves that indicate when it lacks moisture. Another plant can now record and transmit 3D images of the environment. Moreover, there is even a plant that can detect substances in groundwater that are used to make explosives. All of these prototypes fall into the category of an emerging discipline - plant nanobiotics. This term combines two concepts: "bionics", that is, the process of endowing living beings with artificial abilities (for example, a bionic hand), and "nano", that is, particles that are less than 100 nanometers in size. Such particles can be used in order to endow a living creature with bionic features.
Researchers are pondering how they can create plants that can perform functions that are inherent in a variety of devices today. Scientists aim to find out if they can replace things that are created from plastic and various boards with living plants.
Glowing plant leaves
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One of the latest projects was to try to make the leaves glow through experiments that used kale, watercress and spinach. By introducing nanoparticles into watercress leaves, the team found that they can make them glow with dim light for three and a half hours. During the study, the leaves were first immersed in a solution of nanoparticles, and then subjected to high pressure, which forced these particles to penetrate through special pores called stomata. Once inside, the nanoparticles released luciferin, a compound capable of emitting light, as well as luciferase, an enzyme that acts on luciferin to start glowing. Thus, light production was directly triggered by the plant's metabolic process itself.
Are plants a complete alternative to light bulbs?
Green spaces collect energy from the sun and then store it in the form of sugar. Scientists take a small portion of this energy and redirect it to lighting. The resulting light is roughly one thousandth the power needed to even read a book, but scientists believe this is just the beginning.
Marina Ilyushenko