Catalogo Experimenta 06
Catalogo Experimenta 06
Catalogo Experimenta 06
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INDEX SCIENTIFIC STUDIES<br />
144<br />
technology of the future.. It is obvious that to become good<br />
bionic botanists it is necessary to erase the idea that there<br />
are “useless” plants, and that the useful part of plants are<br />
only those which contain abundant supplies of good, valuable<br />
wood, textile fibres, flowers and leaves with an ornamental<br />
value, medicinal substances. Research underway refers to<br />
different types of plants and vital mechanisms still partially<br />
unknown: different targets have almost been reached, while<br />
others are still very far away.<br />
Classic studies of plants are linked to chlorophyll photosynthesis,<br />
mechanism which allows green plants to exploit solar<br />
energy for their vital necessity. The biochemical process<br />
is today well known, and technologies are about to capture<br />
the suns rays transforming them into other energy, but the<br />
compactness, lightness, cheapness and efficiency of natural<br />
leaves have not yet been reached.<br />
Modern research has allowed the discovery of numerous species<br />
of plants which produce chemical insecticide, fungicide<br />
or bactericide compounds. The molecules that form these<br />
compounds are more selective and, in many cases, less toxic<br />
than artificial products of synthesis. In addition, if correctly<br />
used, they do not kill the pollinating animals. Reproducing<br />
this type of molecules in the laboratory and better copying<br />
the natural defence systems of plants allows reducing the negative<br />
impact of cultivations on the environment.<br />
The system of the movement of liquids in vascular plants must<br />
still be studied more in depth. The plants which have colonised<br />
the mainland from the era of dinosaurs are vascular plants:<br />
roots, trunks and leaves are connected between themselves<br />
by a system of conductor vessels which allow the movement<br />
of water and vital liquids. In these plants, which do not have<br />
a “heart”, that is a pulsating pump; the movement of liquids<br />
comes about thanks to the evaporation of the water, and does<br />
not consume internal energy. The flux of liquids in the canals<br />
is regulated by the needs of the plant: the conductor ves-<br />
sel is well protected from embolism and blockage of another<br />
type. What does a modern scientist seek to obtain from this<br />
mechanism? For example, a safe and more economic system<br />
to transport some liquids over long distances, such as water<br />
or petrol. Probably, in the future, the actual pipes of large<br />
dimensions will be substituted by a network of thin fibres and<br />
elaborated like the conductor canal of trees.<br />
The internal structures of trunks of vascular plants, if studied<br />
in depth, will also offer different clues for creating new<br />
systems of construction for building and for infrastructure.<br />
Many tress, palm trees and big grasses such as bamboo are in<br />
fact excellent examples of resistance and economy, and were<br />
tested over hundreds of years of evolution and exposure to<br />
severe weather conditions.<br />
Another line of study related to plants is that relative to the<br />
production and use of cellulose, a substance of many uses it<br />
has been proven more resistant, longer lasting and more economic<br />
than cement, steel and plastic material. An in-depth<br />
study of the disposition and order of the buds and seeds, such<br />
as the spiral structure of the cones and sunflowers, will probably<br />
bring about an improvement in packaging merchandise,<br />
with a significant saving in space and raw materials.<br />
Other studies refer to particulars apparently very insignificant.<br />
Some researchers have studied in depth the mechanism<br />
of opening and closing the flakes of cones, which inflate and<br />
arch towards the outside when the air is humid, then arch<br />
towards the inside, better protecting the seeds, when the<br />
air becomes dry. After having analysed the movement of the<br />
flakes, based on the stratification of different materials, the<br />
research group is defining textiles able to liberate an excess<br />
of humidity, for example sweat, thanks to raising tiny shreds<br />
of material. The possible users are, above all, the producers of<br />
sports clothes<br />
Another secret to investigate further and then to use could<br />
be that of making fibreglass directly from sea water. This pro-