Collaborate Disseminate
The unique gut microbiome found within a tiny plastics-munching worm could potentially be harnessed to successfully break down problematic materials on a large scale.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: NTU, Plastic, Biodegradable, Sustainability, En… Continue reading ‘Super gut’ made from superworm’s microbiome devours problem plastics
When it comes to cleaning up marine oil spills, it’s best if you can use a material that separates the oil from the seawater. Scientists have created a new organic membrane which does exactly that, and it’s derived from oyster mushrooms.Continue Readin… Continue reading Mushroom-derived membranes may make for greener oil-spill cleanups
The complex molecular structure of spider silk has been successfully copied as scientists spin silk from an artificial gland that mimics nature’s process of producing one of the world’s toughest fibers. Scientists believe this breakthrough is a huge st… Continue reading Artificial spider gland spins scalable spider silk just like nature
Japanese scientists have developed a new type of plastic that’s strong at room temperature, but can be easily broken down on demand into its base components. In seawater, it starts to break down into food for marine life, and just to top it off, it can… Continue reading Impressive new plastic self-heals, can be recycled and feeds marine life
It was just last month that we heard how waste coffee grounds could be utilized to boost the strength of concrete. Well, new research shows that such otherwise-unwanted grounds could also be used to 3D-print plant pots, single-use cups and more.Continu… Continue reading Landfill-destined coffee grounds get converted to a 3D printing medium
The UK’s PLP Architects is focused on creating a greener future by collaborating with nature, developing a fungus-based modular block that is renewable and biodegradable, and has the potential to become a new building material with minimal environmenta… Continue reading Architects collaborate with nature for fungus-based building material
While the benefits of handwashing for public health are well-known, in some developing countries soap is an unaffordable luxury. Researchers have now developed a single-use, biodegradable soap-on-a-tab that shows great promise in improving public healt… Continue reading Single-use, biodegradable “Tab Soap” washes away cost barrier to hygiene
Wood isn’t usually very good at conducting electricity, but now scientists have created the first functional wooden transistor. It’s not the best, and it requires some processing, but it does work and could help make for biodegradable electronics.Conti… Continue reading First working wooden transistor marks a step toward biodegradable tech
Italian researchers have created a novel 4D-printed biodegradable soft robot shaped like a seed that changes shape in response to changes in humidity and can navigate through the soil. The device has great potential as a new way of monitoring the envir… Continue reading First 4D-printed, shape-changing ‘seed robot’ to monitor the environment
While reusing cutlery is always better than discarding it, most people aren’t going to be packing a knife and fork whenever they grab some fast food. With that fact in mind, scientists have designed a recyclable plant-and-wood-based material that disso… Continue reading Plant-and-wood-based material is strong, yet dissolves when discarded