Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pollutants in the soil and cultivated plants, and when the nutrients are detected, the modified bacteria “taught” to spread the light. The results of the work published In Nature Biotechnology (Natbiotech).
Technology allows you to simplify the verification of the soil – instead of complex analyzes, “discussing” with local bacteria is enough. The answers can be fixed using hyperpectral rooms mounted on drones or satellites. Depending on the content of nutrients or pollutants in the soil, bacteria will shine in different colors.
The bacteria themselves are designed for the production of “reporters” molecules that are easily far away. During the study, a team of researchers performed quantum-mechanical simulations of more than 20 thousand metabolites to choose the most effective molecules for light alarm. As a result, biliverdin was selected – a pigment that gives a green tone to the caries and bacterialophyll who participates in photosynthesis.
The system showed high efficiency: Samples of soil containing targets have spread 12 times stronger than control and can be recorded at a distance of up to 90 meters. At the same time, the sparkle remains invisible for the human eye, but is clearly fixed by hypertheral cameras that can capture the smallest color changes in large waves.
“The system can respond to everything that needs to be detected – the system, metals, radiation, toxins or nutrients in the soil.” In the future, this technology may find applications in the monitoring of agriculture, ecology and pollution.
Previously, scientists Created Bacterial fibers for bone restoration.
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Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.