Transparent paper-based material can hold boiling water, and biodegradable in less than a year after settling on the ocean floor

https://phys.org/news/2025-04-transparent-paper-based-material-degrade.html

"stands up to liquids for several hours, replacing plastic cups, straws, other everyday objects... cellulose hydrogel is dried, treated with aqueous lithium bromide solution forcing cellulose to solidify into desired shapes... end-products thin as plastic cup walls, or as thick as desired... material called tPB... no signs of collapse seen in paper straws... leaked just a little bit after 3 hours, adding plant-based resin coating stopped from leaking at all... recycles easily, but less transparent after being melted/ reformed"

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