# Synthetic Silk Leaves This Synthetic Biological Leaf Has Amazing Scientific Impact By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-07-26 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/synthetic-biological-leaf References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/25/movie-silk-leaf-first-man-made-synthetic-biological-leaf-space-travel/) & [julianmelchiorri](http://www.julianmelchiorri.com/) RCA graduate Julian Melchiorri developed a synthetic biological leaf, titled the 'Silk Leaf,' that can produce oxygen from carbon dioxide just like a regular plant can. He posits that his design could facilitate space travel over longer distances. "Plants don't grow in zero gravity. [NASA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-void) is researching different ways to produce oxygen for long-distance space journeys to let us live in space. This material could allow us to explore space much further than we can now." The project is part of the [Royal College of Art's Innovation Design Engineering](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cognitive-bloom) course (in collaboration with [Tufts University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xenobots) silk lab) and features chloroplasts suspended in a cast of silk protein. Melchiorri notes that the material has "an amazing property of stabilizing molecules," allowing the synthetic material to photosynthesize as a living plant does. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 29% | Activity: 59% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Synthetic Biological Leaves:** The development of synthetic biological leaves presents an opportunity for sustainable oxygen production and agricultural practices. - **Space Exploration:** The use of synthetic biological leaves could potentially revolutionize long-distance space travel by providing a renewable source of oxygen. - **Materials Innovation:** The creation of innovative materials such as the silk-based synthetic leaves opens up possibilities for various industries, including architecture, fashion, and biomedical applications. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Aerospace:** The aerospace industry can benefit from the use of synthetic biological leaves to support sustainable life support systems for long-duration space missions. - **Agriculture:** The agricultural industry can leverage synthetic biological leaves to improve crop yields and reduce dependency on traditional farming practices. - **Material Science:** The field of material science can explore the use of synthetic biological leaves for developing new sustainable materials with properties similar to living organisms. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Living Footwear Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jessica-thies-synthiesis.md) - [Living Printable Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-ink.md) - [Synthetic Fiber Heart Valves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wyss-institute.md) - [Air-Purifying Houseplants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neoplants.md) - [Plant-Friendly Night Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacecrop.md) - [Sculptural Biomaterial Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wevolve-labs.md) - [Organic Light Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lapso.md) - [Mycelium Leather Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myco-travel-pouch.md) - [Algae-Powered Metal Lung Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-lung.md)