Jealousy plays little role in what could be dubbed the 21st century’s green-eyed monster. Curiosity would be a more fitting description for the latest crop mutation developed by scientists. Using a technique called nanobionics and involving a polymer substrate, researchers have been able to transform your average spinach into a living sensor capable of detecting explosives or other chemicals, and wirelessly sending this information to a smartphone.

A new stage in plant-human communication, herbs might soon replace the security staff at airports, not to mention metal detectors. It would certainly help make the world a greener place…