Some weeds have anti-inflammatory properties.
Now, a female PhD student from the Netherlands has discovered that another weed, soft rush, also has hidden qualities.
The lightweight plant takes oxygen from the air, transporting the gas through internal flue-like channels. A cross section revealed a highly porous structure and coarse surface.
Therefore, the student pressed two layers together to create a nanogenerator, as the resulting friction produced an electric charge. Think balloons and hair.
The weed is equally well suited for use as an on-off sensor, since the presence or absence of electricity can be measured. Next, the plant will be used to create a battery.
Other storage systems are edible, while silkworms can have an electrifying impact.
