In the time it takes you to read this sentence — say, four seconds — the world produces nearly 60 metric tons of plastic, almost entirely out of fossil fuels. That’s about 53,000 metric tons an hour, ...
Materials scientists are cooking up environmentally friendly polymers from natural sources like silk, plant fibers and whole algae. Economics and acceptance remain hurdles. By Boyce Upholt / Knowable ...
Plastic feels like a modern industrial material, but this story shows how it can begin with something as ordinary as milk, potatoes, and sugar. What starts as an experiment in making bioplastics ...