Name: Smelfies, and other experiments in synthetic biology
Uploaded: 2017-02-27T15:59:48Z
Duration: 7 min 10 s
Description: What if you could take a smell selfie, a smelfie? What if you had a lipstick that caused plants to grow where you kiss? Ani Liu explores the intersection of technology and sensory perception, and her work is wedged somewhere between science, design and art. In this swift, smart talk, she shares dreams, wonderings and experiments, asking: What happens when science fiction becomes science fact?

What if you could take a smell selfie, a smelfie? What if you had a lipstick that caused plants to grow where you kiss? Ani Liu explores the intersection of technology and sensory perception, and her work is wedged somewhere between science, design and art. In this swift, smart talk, she shares dreams, wonderings and experiments, asking: What happens when science fiction becomes science fact?

Smelfies, and other experiments in synthetic biology

Technology is stepping into the realm of the senses, reshaping how humans interact with nature and each other. From engineering plants that respond to human touch to sending 'smell selfies' as tokens of intimacy, new tools are blending science, art, and emotion. A lipstick that makes flowers grow where it kisses and plants designed to signal pollution hint at a future where biology is not just functional but deeply personal. As synthetic biology advances, it raises challenging questions about profit, ethics, and the very definition of humanity.