Since 2004, MIT researchers have created a spinach-powered solar battery, harnessing the ability of plants to convert sunlight into electricity. Although still in their experimental stages as the electricity generated is not strong enough to power significant devices such as hand phones and laptops, the idea is still promising.
In China, scientists said they have succeeded in mapping out the structure of a protein complex that plays a principal role in photosynthesis in green plants.
The work, which is regarded by their peers as a once-in-a-decade breakthrough, sheds new light on our understanding of the process of photosynthesis, probably the most important chemical reaction on earth.
The complex, known as light harvesting complex of photosystem 2, or LHC-2, was obtained from the cell membrane of spinach.
Meanwhile, others are claiming that pupils can make a solar cell with spinach, toothpaste and a few other items found in any school laboratory. The device is called a Graetzel cell, and could trigger off a revolution in photovoltaic technology if it actually works. We haven’t seen any evidence of it yet but if you know something about it, please let us know.