Creating a plant-based magnetospheric monitor using outdoor plant boxes is an innovative way to merge sustainability with scientific exploration. This project leverages the natural conductivity of plants and simple electronics to detect changes in Earth's magnetic field. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Materials Needed:

- Outdoor plant boxes (preferably wooden or non-metallic)

- Conductive plants like spinach or wheatgrass

- Copper electrodes or conductive wire

- Arduino or Raspberry Pi for data logging

- Magnetometer sensor (e.g., HMC5883L)

- Soil with high mineral content

2. Assembly Steps:

- Plant the conductive species in the boxes, ensuring healthy growth.

- Insert copper electrodes into the soil near the plant roots to measure electrical fluctuations.

- Connect the electrodes to the Arduino, which processes the data.

- Attach the magnetometer to the plant box to correlate plant conductivity with geomagnetic activity.

3. Data Collection:

- The plant’s bioelectrical responses to magnetic field changes are recorded by the Arduino.

- Use open-source software to visualize data trends over time.

4. Applications:

- Low-cost, sustainable alternative to traditional magnetospheric monitors.

- Educational tool for studying geomagnetic storms or solar activity.

This project demonstrates how nature and technology can collaborate to advance environmental monitoring. Experiment with different plant species or sensor placements to optimize accuracy!