Scientists Propose a Plant Wall Plan That Purifies the Air and Beautifies the Environment
Recently, according to foreign media reports, scientists plan to turn plants into a green, eco-friendly new type of air monitoring system. Once harmful gases are detected in the air, the plants can alert people to changes in the surrounding gas environment by changing color or emitting fluorescence.
Rana Abudayyeh, a professor at the University of Tennessee in the United States, said that while exploring plant genetic modification issues with the Donnell couple, they had a flash of inspiration and thought that it might be possible to modify some of the plant's genes to make the plant more sensitive. Once it comes into contact with harmful gases, its internal system will take corresponding defensive measures. At this point, some changes will appear on the outside of the plant. By observing the changes in the plant, people can realize that the air quality in their environment is declining.
In Rana Abudayyeh's vision, a household "plant wall" could be built, and this "plant wall" would have two special functions. The first function is to filter air. The "plant wall" is made up of various plants, and most gases will pass through the plants' stomata and enter their cells. After the plant cells absorb and filter the incoming gases, they will also release some of the gases. The gas filtered through plant cells is naturally fresher than the original gas, thus creating a good gas environment for people.
Second, after genetic modification of the plants, their sensitivity is relatively high. Once they come into contact with harmful gases or harmful viruses, the plants will show a color-changing reaction. In preliminary tests, Rana Abudayyeh placed the "plant wall" in environments filled with mold, full of influenza viruses, or mixed with volatile compounds. In different environments, the "plant wall" reacted by changing color or emitting harsh fluorescence.
Regarding the vision of Professor Rana Abudayyeh and the Donnell couple, Neal Stewart, a co-author of the research report, expressed agreement. Neal Stewart said that household plant landscapes or household potted plants can be seen everywhere, and most of them have the effect of being aesthetically pleasing and mildly freshening the environment. If plant genes could be modified so that plants have both ornamental and practical value, that would be all the better.
In addition, Neal Stewart said that among all kinds of home decorations, plant-based home decorations are the most eco-friendly and also the most effective. Plant-based home decorations can add a touch of green to a room, give people a feeling of vibrant life, and help people reduce stress and worries. If a new type of "plant wall" with multiple functions is launched in the future, it is believed that customers will come to buy it in an endless stream.