Can worms tell you if the air quality of your interior space is safe?
They can… by glowing in the dark!!!
Yes, it is true that genetically modified worms can glow in the dark when exposed to indoor air pollution.
This was demonstrated in a study conducted by researchers from the University of Turku in Finland. They used two transgenic strains of the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode and exposed them to harmful substances such as black mold, chemicals used in cleaning products, and volatile organic compounds produced by degraded plastic carpets.
When these airborne substances were present, the worms fluoresced green and became less active, with some even dying.
This is the first time that these environmentally sensitive nematodes have been used to monitor indoor air contaminants, providing a reliable way to detect and measure air pollution.
Will we all have worms in our homes to monitor our indoor air quality?
Maybe someday…
Read more > Transgenic nematodes monitor indoor air pollution
Read the study > Nematodes can help us detect indoor air impurities
