A team of sciences from the James Hutton Institute, created transparent soil under the leadership of theoretical biologist, Lionel Dupoy. It was not created for amusement or just to say they could, but to be able to get a better look at the once hidden life of plants. One could say to intrude on their privacy.
Since soil is compact and opaque it makes it almost impossible to see what goes on beyond a plants stem without disrupting it in some way or another. So this makes sense. Surely most of us never knew it could be done. But even the word impossible says i’m possible.
The team created the imitation soil using sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer or shorter yet, nafion. Nafion is a part of a group of synthetic polymers with ionic properties and can act as soil when formed into pellets. It offers space for the plant to grow, retains water and even provides it with nourishment. The perfect plant research soil.
Do not expect this to be on sale in your regular garden store soon. Because it was created with the sole intention of research and the group of scientists are currently working on bringing down the cost of the transparent soil and keeping charge of it’s unique qualities.
