Chemical engineer Beth Sattely studies the intricate chemistry of plant life. Plants are more than food, she says: They are living chemical factories churning out molecules that help plants do everything from adapting to climate change to fighting infections – or even producing valuable new cancer drugs. Lately, Sattely’s lab is working on ways to make crops more resilient to engineer more sustainable foods and environments. Some of our most exciting technologies already exist in nature, we just have to find them, Sattely tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Elizabeth Sattely

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• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Beth Sattely, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:10) Path to Plant Metabolism

How chemistry and gardening led to a career in plant science.

(00:03:54) Environmental and Human Health

Using plants to improve both the planet and people’s well-being.

(00:04:53) Engineering Climate-Resilient Crops

Making crops more sustainable and nutritious amid global change.

(00:05:58) Old vs. New Crop Engineering

Comparing traditional breeding with modern molecular tools.

(00:08:04) Industry and Long-Term Food Security

The gap between short-term market goals and long-term environmental needs.

(00:09:13) Tomato Chemistry

Tomatoes reveal how plants produce protective molecules under stress.

(00:12:26) Plant “Vaccines” and Immune Signaling

How plants communicate threats internally and mount chemical defenses.

(00:14:14) Citrus Greening and Limonoids

The potential role of limonoid research on citrus greening.

(00:16:59) Plants Making Medicine

How plants like Yew trees naturally produce cancer drugs like Taxol.

(00:21:19) Diet as Preventative Medicine

Identifying plant molecules to understand their preventative health effects. 

(00:24:36) Food Allergies and Plant Chemistry

Why the immune system tolerates some foods and rejects others.

(00:26:42) Understanding Tolerance in Immunity

Possibility of reintroducing tolerance through partial molecular exposure.

(00:28:02) Engineering Healthier Plants

Potential for designing plants to enhance micronutrient content.

(00:29:04) Training the Next Generation

Beth celebrates her students’ role in shaping a sustainable future.

(00:30:39) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook