Eco Factor: Edinburgh researchers engineer bacteria to detect land mines.
Statistics point out that about 20,000 people are killed every year by land mines that are currently scattered in over 87 countries worldwide. Detecting these land mines is in itself a tedious and moreover a very dangerous process. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are finding answers in strains of bacteria that can detect the presence of explosives without any manual aid.
These researchers have engineered a strain of bacteria that glows green in the presence of explosives, easing detection. The new strains are creating using a technique called BioBricking, which allows strains to be manipulated for desired traits. The research team states that after a few hours of spraying affected fields, the bacteria starts to glow showing the presence of explosives.
Via: Inhabitat
