Scientists use indestructible ‘plant diamond’ substance to create storage solution for pollution: ‘You can’t destroy it’
The powerful substance that surrounds pollen is being studied at the University of Florida with the hope of unlocking the secret to its durability.
If the Gator scientists can replicate the near-destructive, protective shell called sporopollenin, it could become a breakthrough for capturing and storing underground air pollution.
The secret is empowering plant roots by replicating the shielding.
Pollen protection is crucial for the “vulnerable” plant particles. Unlocking the chemical structure of the substance has been so far as tough as the sporopollenin itself, the journal Nature reported.
“They call sporopollenin the ‘plant diamond’ because you can’t destroy it,” genetics Professor and study lead Matias Kirst said in the university lab report. “This has made it incredibly difficult to study in the past.”
Plants naturally remove air pollution from our atmosphere and provide many other benefits. But when they decompose, the dirty air is released back into the environment.
Kirst’s team wants to turn root systems into iron men of sorts, boosted with the indestructible armor of sporopollenin. The experts claim the substance would provide a way for the roots