The glow emanating from the leaves of this watercress is the result of plant nanobionics, in which live plants are given unusual characteristics through the introduction of microscopic nanoparticles. It’s a new area of research pioneered by Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. To turn leaves into a light source, Strano uses luciferase, the enzyme responsible for a firefly’s glow. A total of three compounds (luciferase, the light-emitting compound...

Source: Wall Street Journal May 15, 2018 14:26 UTC