plastic
Stronger than steel, novel metals are moldable as plastic
New Haven, Conn. — Imagine a material that’s stronger than steel, but just as versatile as plastic, able to take on a seemingly endless variety of forms. For decades, materials scientists have been trying to come up with just such an ideal su…
Paper mulches evaluated for commercial vegetable production
LEXINGTON, KY — Polyethylene mulches, used widely in commercial vegetable production to improve crop yields and produce quality, have distinct disadvantages. Disposal options are limited, and plastic mulches often end up in landfills, being …
The sweetness of biodegradable plastics
Tel Aviv ― Environmentalists around the world agree ― plastic bags are choking our landfills and polluting our seas. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher is developing new laboratory methods using corn starch and sugar to help susta…
A new kind of blast-resistant glass
Whether in a hurricane, tornado, or bomb attack, a leading cause of injury and death is often fast-flying shards of glass. Explosions and high winds can cause windows in buildings to shatter-spewing jagged pieces of glass in every direction. …
Assessment tool predicts blood clot risk after plastic surgery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgery should receive a risk assessment before their procedure to predict whether they’ll develop potentially fatal blood clots in the legs or lungs, according to research at the Univ…
Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay
Amid ongoing concern about plastic waste accumulating in municipal landfills, and reliance on imported oil to make plastics, scientists are reporting development of a new ultra-light biodegradable foam plastic material made from two unlikely ingredi…
Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay
Amid ongoing concern about plastic waste accumulating in municipal landfills, and reliance on imported oil to make plastics, scientists are reporting development of a new ultra-light biodegradable foam plastic material made from two unlikely ingredi…
Behind-the-scenes advances underpin new super-strong plastics
Long-awaited advances in reducing the cost of certain catalysts — substances that kick-start chemical reactions — have quietly led to production of super-strong forms of the world’s most widely used plastics, according to the cover story of th…
Rutgers discovery paves way for development of efficient, inexpensive plastic solar cells
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Physicists at Rutgers University have discovered new properties in a material that could result in efficient and inexpensive plastic solar cells for pollution-free electricity production.
The discovery, posted online and sl…