These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
SPECIAL MENTION: An estimated 20% to 40% of global crop production is lost to pests and pathogens. But what if crops could tell farmers they’re under attack? Agri-tech firm InnerPlant has developed a soybean plant, dubbed the Living Sensor, that has been genetically modified to glow when the plant is under stress—allowing farmers to intervene before it’s too late. The seeds and fledgling shoots, which contain the same fluorescent proteins found in jellyfish, will be available for commercial use in about two years. —Eloise Barry
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Caitlin Clark Is TIME's 2024 Athlete of the Year
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
