When someone has had blood vessel surgery, it's important for doctors to check that the vessel doesn't become blocked as it heals. Such blockages could someday be detected earlier and more easily than ever, thanks to an experimental new biodegradable blood flow sensor.
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Plastic waste is a major problem in the world's oceans, which is why some groups have developed bioplastics that break down in the sea. Even those aren't entirely eco-friendly, though, which is why Israeli scientists are working on one that's derived from marine microorganisms.
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It's no secret that conventional plastic drinking straws are very eco-unfriendly. Manufactured in the billions, they're typically only used once, and then end up in landfills or the ocean. Finnish startup Sulapac is attempting to address the problem, with marine-biodegradable straws.
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In a landmark study, researchers from Northwestern University and the Washington University School of Medicine describe a novel biodegradable implant designed to electrically stimulate damaged nerves, speeding up the healing process, before naturally dissolving into the body.
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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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