Could this future technology– a manmade silk leaf–actually produce more oxygen for the environment?

Royal College of Art graduate Julian Melchiorri seems to have proven that it can. His future technology project saw him develop a silk blend fiber that is capable of performing like a real leaf when provided with light and water. As crazy as it might seem, this leaf could actually create leaps and bounds in space exploration, alongside making the air we breathe on Earth cleaner and healthier.

Melchiorri’s leaf is made from a matrix of protein extracted from silk fiber blended with chloroplasts, which are plant cell organelles that plants an algae use to perform photosynthesis. When given the right conditions with enough light and water, the synthetic silk leaf acts just like a real leaf, producing oxygen and releasing it into the atmosphere. 

The silk leaf has initially been put to a test by Melchiorri as a simple light fixture that can be used inside apartments and houses, keeping the air clean and fresh as an indoor plant would. On a larger scale, his formula could be used on the sides of buildings and ventilation systems to create oxygen in large, polluted cities. Not to mention, the green, photosynthetic sides of buildings would present a new and bright kind of vision for a “living wall”.

As an extremely light and energy efficient creation, the silk leaf would not only be a sustainable solution for a healthier planet we call home, but a possible solution for astronauts traveling to space. NASA has invested many years and finances into creating ways to provide enough oxygen for space travel, and Melchiorri believes that his silk leaf could be the solution for further space exploration.

Watch this interview with Mr. Melchiorri himself explaining the development of his incredible invention and the astronomical future he sees for it:

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Image: Julian Melchiorri

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IBM predicts how future technology will affect our lives over the next five years.

Have you ever seen one of those movies in which modern characters somehow travel back in time? Knowing the future gives them a huge advantage over still living in the past, although it often causes more trouble than it’s worth. Well every year for the past eight years, IBM has given the world the next best thing: a list of educated predictions about future technology. No, these aren’t half-cocked dreams about flying cars or colonies on Mars. These are systems and gadgets that are very likely to change the way we do things in the next five years.

Surprisingly (or maybe not) many of IBM’s “5 in 5” predictions about future technology have come to fruition, or something close to it. As 2013 draws to a close, let’s take a look at the future technology that will likely become commonplace by the end of the decade.

IBM’s Future Technology Predictions For Education, Retail, Healthcare, Security and Cities

Education

According to IBM, the digitization of classrooms that’s already begun will really take off in the next five years. Future technology in the classroom will learn from the student while he or she is learning their daily lesson. “Cognitive computing, or learning technologies, will help us calculate everything we can about how each student learns and thrives, then create flexibility in the system to continually adapt and fine-tune what we deliver to that student and how this supports teachers and employers,” says Katharine Frase, IBM’s VP and CTO of Global Public Sector.

Retail

How many of us shopped on Amazon this holiday season? It may seem like online behemoth’s are stamping the local brick and mortar businesses out of existence, but IBM says a firm grasp on future technology could change this in the next five years. “Retailers will layer increasing levels of engagement and personalization on top of the shopping experience, ultimately merging the instant gratification of physical shopping with the richness of online shopping and making same-day delivery a snap,” says Sima Nadler, IBM’s Research Lead for Retail. According to Gizmag, “IBM has already demonstrated such technology in the form of an experimental augmented reality app that automatically delivers personalized coupons, offers, customer reviews and hidden product details to shoppers in stores.”

Healthcare

Mortality is a fact of, well, life, but according to IBM, future technology could help us to better prepare for it. The company predicts that DNA testing will move from a costly procedure to a mainstream tool doctors can use to test for cancers, or develop personalized treatment options for conditions such as stroke and heart disease.

Security

In perhaps the most strange and slightly terrifying prediction, IBM says future technology will provide each of us with an “online guardian” that will learn your habits to help protect your identity and sensitive information (I wonder if it works for the NSA too?).

Cities

Smart phones are already ubiquitous in big cities, but in the future, IBM predicts that they’ll making living in dense urban areas easier and more enjoyable. “For citizens, smart phones enabled by cognitive systems will provide a digital key to the city. People can have fingertip access to information about everything that’s happening in the city, whether an experience is right for them, and how best to get there,” says IBM’s Human Systems researcher Sergio Borger.

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Images via keoni101 and IBM

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