Hobson, Ben. “The ‘First Man-Made Biological leaf’ Could Enable Humans to Colonise Space.” Dezeen. Dezeen, 25 July 2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Julian Melchiorri, a graduate of London’s Royal College of Art, has developed what he calls “the first man-made biological leaf.” As a synthetic plant, the leaf produces oxygen through its absorption of water and carbon dioxide. It’s derived from silk protein and chloroplasts, and has the potential for creating oxygen in crucial environments. Melchiorri thinks his invention has the capacity to even prolong space travel in the future.
This breakthrough is incredible, but it also leaves many unanswered questions. What is the anticipated lifespan of these synthetic leaves? Are the desired applications for these leaves actually possible? I’m interested to see this tested and examined more, but it’s a noteworthy start.
