by Howard Fairbrother In these days of social distancing, everyday electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops are more crucial than ever. But many of these devices, ubiquitous as they are, contain materials that …
recycling
Recycling: A Strategy for Sustainable Nanotechnology?
by Howard Fairbrother These days we are all familiar with the concept of recycling, which for most of us involves the weekly ritual of placing waste materials such as bottles, cans, and cardboard into oversized, …
Game Day Green: Sustainability in College Football
by Arielle Mensch edited by Caley Allen If you’re anything like me, the holiday season is a time for relaxation, family, food, and of course football! If you turned on the television during the New …
Ep 10. Why Were Plastic Mirobeads Banned? Marine Debris and Sustainable Plastics
Plastic debris in our water is a huge pollution problem, and just one source of that pollution is the tiny microbeads that have been widely used in personal care products. In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Richard Thompson, a Professor of Marine Biology at Plymouth University and an expert on the effects of plastic debris in the marine environment. We discuss the recent federal ban on microbeads and what consumers can do to be more sustainable in our day-to-day use of plastics.
The Chemical Story Behind Non-Petroleum-Based Plastics
by Joe Buchman Every year, millions of tons of plastic are discarded into landfills, where they will take hundreds of years to break down. New biodegradable plastics offer a potential solution to this problem. Let’s …
Turning Plastic Bags into Carbon Nanotubes
by Merve Dogangun I was surprised to learn recently that plastic bags can be turned into a new material called carbon nanotubes. Prior to this, all I had heard about plastic bags was about the …
Paper or Plastic? Sustainability is a Multi-Dimensional Problem
by Sam Lohse Part 1 in the “How is That Sustainable?” Series “Paper or plastic?” This was the question you always used to get once you’d made it through the checkout line to the grocery …