The soil sample N 01 represents not only a physical element of the Earth but also a living archive of shared experiences. During the OrgHort 2024 Symposium in Warsaw, representatives of the global scientific community, spanning from the United States to Poland, gathered to discuss organic farming practices. From regions like Argentina, Brazil, Japan, India, England, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and beyond, participants shared with us the personal memories evoked by Soil Sample N1 prepared by InHort. The memories will be archived and serve as a foundation for creating a unique model of RNA molecule, which then will be printed using bio-degradable materials and buried in the soil.
Soil Sample No.1 was prepared by scientists from InHORT based in Skierniewice, Poland. For the sample, they used compost produced with an innovative method, combining wastes from agri-food industries. In particular, it included three kinds of raw materials: i)residues from wine production (grape pomace – formed of grape skin and seeds), after the extraction of the remaining alcohol (to produce grappa, the famous Italian distillate), ii) the residues from the transformation into preservatives or frozen food of fruits (apple pomace – the peel and exhausted flesh – from the production of juices) and vegetables (tomato or other vegetable peels), and iii) the material obtained from pruning grape vines (shoots and vines). These raw materials, characterized by high quality, not containing plastics or other impurities, were processed with an innovative composting technology, allowing to transform them into a pleasantly-smelling compost.
Click on the circles to uncover the whispered secrets of memories.
This composition is built upon the intricate secondary structure of RNA, which, like DNA, is composed of four essential bases: adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine ( denoted by the letters A, U, C and G ). Each RNA molecule folds into a unique shape, a structure dictated by the specific sequence and pairing of these bases. The resulting shape is crucial, as it determines the RNA's function within the cell.