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Scientists are developing an alternative to bulky plastic carbon monoxide detectors that protect homes. One day in the future, plants that detect gas and change color to warn of deadly fumes can be a common addition in homes.
"Indoor plants are ubiquitous in our home environments", 1965, p. ] University of Tennessee who co-wrote the study, told the Daily Mail . "They can do a lot more than just sitting and being beautiful, they could alert us to the presence of hazards in our environment."
Plants are already acting as a kind of air filter in many homes. Indoor plants have been shown to help filter toxins such as formaldehyde out of the air.
But researchers working on the new study think that with a little genetic engineering, they can do a lot more. By adding more stomata – the tiny openings that allow gases like carbon dioxide into plant cells – scientists believe that they can turn ferns or peace lilies into plants that can change color to alert their owners on carbon monoxide or harmful bacteria.
They have already seen success in the laboratory. Some modified plants have been able to detect flu, mold, radon and other substances, changing color or fluorescent when they do.
Although further research is needed before one of the plants is ready to be publicly released, colleagues see a future where homes are equipped with greenery wall panels – the detection plants of Gas would be more effective in dense clusters, noted the team.
"Thanks to the tools of synthetic biology, we can design plants from within. serve as elements of architectural design that are both pleasing to our senses and serve as early detectors of environmental agents that could harm our health, such as mold, radon gas or high concentrations of compounds. volatile organics, "Stewart told the Mail. The study was published in the journal Science .
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By Kyla Cathey, Earth.com Staff Writer
Topics: Gas Detection Plants
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