驚！植物也能當間諜！

地球上的植物非常多。最近，美國科學界爆出了一個新消息，美國軍方正在進行科學研究，將植物變成一個間諜網絡，實現科學領域中的軍事使用，可以說這是一種非常新奇的研究。

Traditionally， most spying and intelligence gathering has been done by highly trained human operatives. But the US military has a plan to enlist a smart network of plants to help it stay one step ahead of its enemies.

These flora wont be sneaking into secret labs or engaging in close combat， but will be used to monitor the environment for chemical attacks or even electromagnetic pulses， says the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency （DARPA）.

The program is called Advanced Plant Technologies or APT， and while its only just being launched， eventually DARPA is hoping to create a self-sustaining network of plants that can be monitored remotely for any signs of environmental shift.

Plants are highly accustomed to their environments and naturally manifest physiological responses to basic stimuli such as light and temperature， but also in some cases to touch， chemicals， pests， and pathogens.

Emerging molecular and modelling techniques may make it possible to reprogram these detection and reporting capabilities for a wide range of stimuli， which would not only open up new intelligence streams， but also reduce the personnel risks and costs associated with traditional sensors.

In other words， plant spies could help to keep human spies out of danger， and at the same time wouldnt cost as much or require the same level of maintenance as standard hardware sensors.

To do this， DARPA is planning to alter plant genomes or genetic material so that certain environmental triggers result in certain biological responses， that can then be picked up on satellite or using other types of remote monitoring tech.

DARPA says its existing ground， air， and space tech is capable of watching for changes in plant temperature， composition， and light reflections from a distance， some of the responses that could be used as warnings.

So far thats as much detail as DARPA has offered， but it says the plants could eventually recognise pathogens in the air or even be used by communities to detect landmines. Its now inviting researchers to propose potential modifications for these plant operatives.

To be successful， the genetic alterations mustnt damage the plants capacity to thrive and deal with microbes， insects， and other plants， DARPA says， adding that previous efforts in this area have ended up sucking out resources the foliage needs to actually live.

Contained lab and greenhouse tests will be run before we see any plant spies out in the field， with oversight from regulators and biosafety groups.

傳統的間諜和情報收集工作都是由受過專業訓練的操作員來完成的。然而美國軍方卻計劃招集整編一群聰明的植物，讓自己先敵一步。

美國國防高級研究計劃局（DARPA）表示，這些植物不會潛入秘密實驗室或者與敵人近身搏斗，而是被用于檢測使用化學武器甚至電磁脈沖的環境。

這個項目被稱為高級植物技術，簡稱APT。雖然這個項目剛剛起步，但DARPA希望最終建立一個可持續的植物生態網，通過遠程監控了解任何環境變化的跡象。

植物對其生長的環境具有高度的適應性，會對光線和溫度等一般刺激產生自然的生理反射，在某些情況下，對異物觸碰、化學物質、寄生蟲、致病菌等也會產生生理反射。

新興的分子建模技術或許能重新改造植物的這種勘察和報告功能，使之能適用于更廣范圍的刺激類型。這不僅能開拓新的情報來源，還能降低人員風險和傳統傳感器帶來的成本。

換句話說，植物間諜可以幫助人類間諜免于身處險境，同時又不會像標準的硬件傳感器那樣花費太多，或是需要與之相等的維護成本。

為此，DARPA打算改變植物的基因組或遺傳物質，如此一來特定的環境刺激就會激發植物身上的特定生物反射，生物反射信息進而被衛星或其他遠程控制設備接收。

DARPA表示，其現有的地面、空中和太空技術可以在一定的距離之外觀測植物溫度、組織結構和光反射的變化，這些植物反應中有一些可以用作警告的信號。

該局目前提供的技術信息就只有這些，不過他們還表示，植物將最終可以識別空氣中的病原體，還能幫助軍事組織檢測地雷。現在他們正在邀請研究人員對可能實施在植物間諜身上的基因改變做出建議。

DARPA表示，為了達到實驗目標，對植物做出的基因改良不能破壞植物原有的發育機能以及對抗微生物、害蟲和其他植物的機能。他們還補充說，過去這一領域的研究最終都掠奪了植物實際生存所需要的資源。

不久我們就會看到地里長出的植物間諜，它們受到來自監管機構和生物安全區的遠程監控。但在那之前還需要進行控制實驗條件的實驗室測試和溫室測試。