By embedding spinach leaves with carbon nanotubes, MIT engineers have transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay that information to a handheld device similar to a smartphone. The plant was designed to detect nitroaromatics, which are compounds that are used in landmines and other explosives, present in the groundwater. If any substances are present, the plant emits a fluorescent signal that can be read by an infrared camera connected to a Raspberry Pi or similar microcomputer, which then emails an alert the user. A smartphone alone can also be adapted to read the infrared signal and send the email alert. Plants could also be designed to detect other pollutants and harmful chemicals like nitric oxide from combustion, TNT and the nerve gas sarin and even warn of harsh environmental conditions like drought, becoming an essential source of information about the health and safety of our world.