Everything from solar power panels to everyday electronics relies on advanced materials and manufacturing processes. But some interesting things are also being made with some old-school tech: plants. Recently, researchers have demonstrated the ability to create electronic plants, or e-Plants, which made their own localized analog and digital circuits. These technologically savvy plants were produced using the existing plant vascular system, so first-generation models are limited by the nature of their leafy hosts.

Now, a team of researchers has developed a new method to produce e-Plants, in this case getting a rose (Rosa floribunda) to produce its own wiring and even supercapacitors.

Energy transport

To make an effective e-Plant, you need a system for energy transport. In the past, development of long-range conducting wires within plants has been a challenge due to material limitations. In particular, the chemicals used to make the wiring within a living plant have suffered from issues such as clotting, toxicity, or failure to spread throughout the plant.