Spinach bomb detectors could be the latest tool in the war against terror after scientists at MIT modified the plants to be able to detect explosives nearby and then relay the information to smartphones or similar devices.
A group of engineers, led by Michael Strano at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published their findings in the journal Nature Materials on Monday.
They embedded nanobionics in the spinach plants. These tiny, near-infrared fluorescent nanosensors, called nanotubes, can detect chemicals called nitroaromatics, which are found in explosives. Shining a laser on the nanotubes reveals a fluorescent signal if explosives are detected. If a landmine is buried nearby, the plant will pick up its trace through the groundwater it pulls in through its roots.
"Our paper outlines how one could engineer plants like this to detect virtually anything," Strano told the BBC News website. "The plants could be used for defense applications, but also to monitor public spaces for terrorism-related activities, since we show both water and airborne detection."
Strano's group previously developed technology to alter plants to detect hydrogen peroxide, TNT, and the nerve gas sarin, New Scientist reported.
The nanosensors are about one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The possible application of these plants goes beyond bomb detection, ABC noted.
"They could also be used on the periphery of a chemical plant and even fracking sites," Strano told the news site.
The advantages of using a plant as a monitoring device include the widespread root systems, the natural adaptability to the environment, and the ability to self-repair.
"If you think of taking your iPhone or a piece of electronics outside and having it adapt to the temperature changes, it's actually an engineering challenge," Strano told ABC. "We look at the plant for a great starting point for technology."
The research drew applause on social media.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.