Turmeric could be used to spot explosives like TNT
The main chemical in turmeric, a curry spice, is already well-known for its antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties, but according to new research, it could replace more complex solutions to pinpoint explosives like TNT. The curcumin molecule can gather molecules of explosive material in the air, and changes in its light-emitting properties can be measured, the BBC reports. Abhishek Kumar of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and colleagues have been working on a way to use the curry ingredient’s fluorescent properties to detect explosives.