Could lab-grown plant tissue ease the environmental toll of logging and agriculture?

MIT researchers grow structures made of wood-like plant cells in a lab, hinting at the possibility of more efficient biomaterials production.

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climate-change environment agriculture plants research mechanical-engineering school-of-engineering bioengineering-and-biotechnology bioinspiration microsystems-technology-laboratories

SMART researchers engineer a plant-based sensor to monitor arsenic levels in soil

Nanoscale devices integrated into the leaves of living plants can detect the toxic heavy metal in real time.

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environment agriculture food plants research sensors school-of-engineering nanoscience-and-nanotechnology chemical-engineering singapore-mit-alliance-for-research-and-technology-smart

Engineers develop precision injection system for plants

Microneedles made of silk-based material can target plant tissues for delivery of micronutrients, hormones, or genes.

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sustainability bacteria agriculture biology food plants microbes research school-of-engineering school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf civil-and-environmental-engineering developing-countries

Nanosensor can alert a smartphone when plants are stressed

Carbon nanotubes embedded in leaves detect chemical signals that are produced when a plant is damaged.

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carbon plants research carbon-nanotubes school-of-engineering nanoscience-and-nanotechnology chemical-engineering department-of-energy-doe singapore-mit-alliance-for-research-and-technology-smart

How plants protect themselves from sun damage

Study reveals a mechanism that plants can use to dissipate excess sunlight as heat.

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chemistry agriculture food plants research school-of-science department-of-energy-doe

Making real a biotechnology dream: nitrogen-fixing cereal crops

Voigt Lab's work could eventually replace cereal crops’ need for nitrogen from chemical fertilizers.

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bacteria water plants genetic-engineering research school-of-engineering biological-engineering j-wafs

Coated seeds may enable agriculture on marginal lands

A specialized silk covering could protect seeds from salinity while also providing fertilizer-generating microbes.

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sustainability bacteria agriculture food plants microbes research school-of-engineering civil-and-environmental-engineering developing-countries

Uncovering the riches of traditional global medicine

Researchers solve how the kava plant produces its pain-relieving and anti-anxiety molecules, demonstrate an extensible method to scale and optimize production.

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evolution health genetics mental-health biology plants research school-of-science national-science-foundation-nsf whitehead-institute

Ambient plant illumination could light the way for greener buildings

Collaboration between MIT architect and chemical engineer could be at the center of new sustainable infrastructure for buildings.

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sustainability arts plants awards research renewable-energy design school-of-architecture-and-planning school-of-engineering nanoscience-and-nanotechnology chemical-engineering honors-and-fellowships

The future of agriculture is computerized

Machine learning can reveal optimal growing conditions to maximize taste and other features.

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machine-learning artificial-intelligence agriculture plants research media-lab school-of-architecture-and-planning