Artist develops first ever man-made leaf that could provide oxygen during space travel

Zee Media Bureau

Washington: In a path-breaking innovation, Royal College of Art graduate Julian Melchiorri developed the first man-made, biologically functional leaf that takes in carbon dioxide, water, and light and releases oxygen. The new material, also called first man-made breathing leaf, could act as an “oxygen factory” during space exploration, a move that would even help humans colonise new planets. Melchiorri said that the leaf material had an amazing property of stabilizing (the chloroplast) organelles and as an outcome he had the first photosynthetic material that was living and breathing as a leaf does. Melchiorri claims his material consumes very little energy and as a result he thinks it could be incorporated into modern buildings, to absorb carbon dioxide. He also said that just a thin coating of the leaf material would provide a breath of fresh air to indoor and outdoor spaces here on Earth. With Agency Inputs Photo credit: Julian Melchiorri/Dezeen/MINI