Genetically Modified Flower Detects Landmines

cdneng2 writes "Yahoo has the story that a Danish company has developed a plant that can detect landmines. The genetically modified weed that has been coded to change color when its roots come in contact with nitrogen-dioxide (NO2) evaporating from explosives buried in soil." The company website has a bit more information.

Comments

What Happens

[City_Idiot]

When the kids of 3 world countries run out into the fields to pick the flowers??

Re:What Happens

[catbutt]

We not only get rid of mines, but wipe out color blindness. Two birds with one stone!

Yes, but...

[dustmote]

Who's going to volunteer to plant them? BOOOM!!! Still, this is a pretty neat idea. Might not be so good for people who are color-blind, like my dad. :)

Re:Yes, but...

[GrenDel Fuego]

Then you just have to worry about birds eating them.. but hey, if a bird explodes, you found a mine.

Re:Yes, but...

[synth7]

Who's going to volunteer to plant them?

Ah, yes... the brainpower of geekus maximus shows that it needs to get out of the house a little more often. You see, plants produce these little things called "seeds" which are actually baby plants in hibernation. These "seeds" typically germinate when sitting in suitable soil... it all depends upon the plant itself, of course: a scrub grass or low-lying shrub will grow in pretty harsh places.

Anyhow, I hope you can see where this is leading. Plants tend to reproduce on their own without the need for human intervention. Of course, if you really wanted these plants to grow in a location, you could always try something innovative like flying overhead and sprinkling a mixtures of seed and fertilizer on the patch of land in question. It may take several years for the plant to get established and spread, but, well, I don't think anyone would complain about turning this particular patch of land over to these weeds for a time, as it's a bit tricky to use it for anything with all those mines in it anyhow.

Honestly, at least half a dozen people have posted "How are they going to plant it?!?" without ever bothering to stop and think for a second. What is this, Fark.com?

Why do they have to change color?

[Kaeru the Frog]

Shouldn't the gardeners blowing up while planting flowers be enough?

Pick the flower

[c_oflynn]

I can just see a field of flowers all one colour.

Then there is one flower that is a different colour, and you think its so unique. You go over to take a look at it...

Big deal

[overshoot]

The grass in my back yard turns green around land mines already.

OK, seriously, this is great. Too many kids are missing body parts from old munitions.

Phase 2

[John Jorsett]

Develop the next generation flower that detonates itself, taking out the mine, instead of just turning a different color. You'd probably risk being gunned down by airport security for carrying flowers, but progress comes at a price ...

What do you need flowers for!

[Mieckowski]

All you have to do is look at the numbers in the adjacent boxes.

People are so lazy!

Thought it was mimes

[AtariAmarok]

Sorry, I thought this was about flowers detecting mimes. I was so looking forward to using this during my next trip to New York City. My mistake.

Minesweeper Flowers

[slstickle]

Will these flowers be genetically engineered to have numbers on them, indicating how many mines are growing in the plots next to them?

Re:Will they grow in desserts?

[aardvarkjoe]

Will they grow in desserts?

They'll grow in cake and fresh pie, but they won't grow so well in cold climates such as ice cream.