Popeye Would Approve

'Plant nanobiotic' practioners have inserted carbon nanotubes into spinach leaves (https://www.euronews.com/living/2021/02/01/scientists-have-taught-spinach-to-send-emails-and-it-could-warn-us-about-climate-change). When the spinach's extensive root systems detect changes in the water table (these could be micronutrients, chemicals associated with landmines or even evidence of climate change), the nanotubes emit a signal. This is read by nearby infra-red cameras, which then send email alerts to the scientists. The media claim that the spinach are being 'taught' to send emails is, of course, way over the top. Using this technology to convert plants into detector systems appears, however, to have potential applications in many fields (forgive the pun!).