BOMB- DETECTING SPINACH

SCIENTISTS AT MIT, led by chemical engineering professor Michael Strano, modified wild spinach using trace nanoparticles to emit an infrared signal when it detects explosives in the soil. “The plant brings groundwater in the soil up through the roots,” Strano says, where any explosives cause a reaction. Which means detecting a land mine becomes much more simple. Just aim a cellphone camera at the spinach, and as long as it looks fluorescent, you know you’re safe. While we won’t exactly be planting spinach in Syria, this is an important first step to using plants to warn people of unseen issues like dangerous pollutants. And even if there are no bombs, you’ll always have plenty of vitamin K.