Cellulose and chitin are the world's first- and second-most common biopolymers, found in plants and crustacean shells (among other places) respectively. Georgia Tech scientists have now devised a method of combining the two, to produce plastic-like compostable food wrap.
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When doctors want to monitor conditions such as swelling of the brain, they'll sometimes implant a sensor that emits an electrical signal whenever it's subjected to pressure. The problem is, those sensors have to taken out afterwards. That may not be the case much longer, though.
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Inspired by biological processes, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are developing materials that “die” when they run out of energy, which could lead to time-release drug delivery systems and eventually electronics and packaging that self-destructs when required.
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Michelin is exploring the potential for improvements in tire technology with its Vision concept tire that is airless, 3D printed, equipped with sensors, biodegradable, and not just a tire, but a tire and wheel in one.
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The plastic microbeads that give products like toothpaste a smooth texture pose a big problem. They're small enough that they don't get caught by sewage filtration systems, and can be ingested by wildlife once in the sea. With that in mind, scientists have developed biodegradable microbeads.
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Not long ago, University of Utah assistant professor Jeff Bates was contacted by a nonprofit advocacy group for women and girls in Guatemala. The group was seeking eco-friendly feminine hygiene products. Bates turned to a team of his students, and they created a completely biodegradable maxi pad.
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Our love affair with technology is leading to a whole lot of environmental problems, including a growing stockpile of discarded devices. What if there was a way for our unwanted electronics to break down so we wouldn't even need to think about the environmental impact of disposing of them?
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Plastic bags are a bane of modern life. People around the world use a trillion of them every year, and while scientists have been trying all sorts of ways to tackle the plastic waste problem, nature might have a simpler solution: a common pest known as the wax worm.
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Reebok is using corn for something different – the rubber soles of shoes. The company's Cotton + Corn initiative is focused on making footwear entirely from "things that grow" instead of from non-renewable petroleum by-products, and that can be composted once it's worn out.
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The plastic film usually used in food packaging is difficult to recycle, and it stays in landfills for many years after disposal. Scientists from Lithuania's Kaunas University of Technology have developed a new food wrap that's not only biodegradable, but it should also keep food fresh for longer.
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