SENSBIOM: Biochemical Computation for Healthier Futures

SENSBIOM proposes to help humans reconnect with the planet through environmentally interactive materials derived from renewable resources. Ultraviolet radiation and airborne chemical exposures are often imperceptible, yet they shape health and everyday environments: UVR can damage skin and eyes, while volatile compounds from outdoor pollution and indoor material off-gassing are associated with respiratory, hormonal, and developmental impacts. SENSBIOM develops large-scale architectural assemblies from bioplastic lattices and cellulose-based biomaterial skins infused with tailored, non-living biochemical reactions that enable real-time, living-like sensing and response through material transformation. Across a series of canopies, partitions, and curtains, these assemblies translate invisible environmental conditions into legible outputs—most directly through reversible color change and embodied olfactory cues—supporting public awareness and interpretation on site. In parallel, we develop a cell-free, DNA-programmable strand as a pathway toward future biosensing sites that can be integrated as modular components. This article argues that biochemically computing matter can help diagnose and communicate the state of our surroundings toward healthier futures.