Jan 27 2011Scientists Develop Bomb-Detecting Plants
"Yep, definitely a bomb."
Scientists at the University of Colorado have developed the early predecessors of future "bomb-sniffing" plants (move buzz over, bees!) that can change colors to indicate the presence of specific chemical compounds. No word on how long it takes for the change to take place, but my guess is two peg-legs too late.
It only took a small engineering nudge to deputize a plant's natural, evolutionary self-defense mechanisms for threat detection. "Plants can't run and hide," says June Medford, the biologist who's spent the last seven years figuring out how to deputize plants for counterterrorism. "If a bug comes by, it has to respond to it. And it already has the infrastructure to respond."
Right now, Medford estimates she's three to four years out. Her labs have genetically-designed plants blanching white when they come into contact with TNT. But that's in a research lab, where the amount of light is constant, "no wind, no rain, no bugs, no people dumping coffee."
Admittedly, that is pretty impressive. I'm not sure how practical it'll be except for blanketing old land-mine beds, but who knows. Now genetically modifying weed to be able to run away from cops -- that would be impressive. And genetically modifying weed to run away from cops BUT STILL FIND ITS WAY BACK HOME, well, that's the f***ing future right there. Holy shit he even brought back snacks. BEST WEED EVER!
Short video report with more in-depth info after the jump.
Professor Breeds Bomb-Detecting Plants [gizmodo]
Thanks to Patrick, who detects bombs the old-fashioned way: waiting for them to explode. I'm not gonna lie Patrick, a little archaic.
Reader Comments
1. Dirty Floyd - January 27, 2011 1:48 PM
Death to us all
2. Dirty Floyd - January 27, 2011 1:50 PM
first by the way bitches
3. McFeely Almighty - January 27, 2011 1:56 PM
It's about time. I created this during lunch with Plato. I said. "Plato.... check it out. Bomb detecting plants." Upon which he queried "What is a bomb?". Only we spoke in Latin which, I'm sure none of you understand...
For the record Plato was a moron.
4. @_@ - January 27, 2011 2:03 PM
ice cream doesn't have bones
5. Nataya - January 27, 2011 3:03 PM
Actually they already did this a few years back in Denmark. A croatian scientist that was working on this was my boyfriend's professor so that's how I know, but I don't know how far they really got because the professor died. So it could be that the people at Colorado took over the project
6. nards - January 27, 2011 3:40 PM
Finally a use for trees!
7. pelledupree - January 27, 2011 3:47 PM
Nope, the Danish made it all the way.. back in 2005.. So much for breaking news on geekologie then ;) http://fragmentedlegs.blogspot.com/2008/06/reddetect-plant-for-landmine-detection.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aresa_Biodetection
8. Nataya - January 27, 2011 3:55 PM
@7 Thanks, I was curious about that, don't know why I never googled it!
9. BlueAnt - January 28, 2011 1:47 AM
Ent
10. aussieland - January 28, 2011 5:01 AM
=S isnt that image of the fire a shot of the victorian bush fires?
11. Alf - January 28, 2011 6:32 AM
"two peg legs too late"
Now that's funny!