Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

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" Related: Velvet worm slime transformation from liquid to fiber and back again, process can be mimicked in recyclables https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1082900 Biodegradable plastic for mass-produced food packaging https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2025/05/berries-just-beginning-bioplastic-breakthrough Shrilk: A degradable bioplastic derived from shrimp shells and silk p...

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1079909 "3D-printable designs already exist, but now get broad spectrum of colors/ gradients... waste plastics quantified after processing for spectral reflectance, then Kubelka-Munk theory provides initial estimated color mixing... Nelder-Mead method gave optimal balance between precision of color differences and RMS, essential for producing high-quality colors... MyMiniFactory users saved >$4 million in 1 month making toys themselves... $250 desktop 3D printer earns 100% ROI making own, more if use recycled plastic" Related: Enhancing the sustainability of plastics using sulfur waste https://phys.org/news/2025-04-sustainability-plastics-sulfur.html Chemically unzipping plastic's its molecular chains at room temperature during recycling https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Tech-Breakthrough-Could-Upend-the-650-Billion-Plastics-Market.html New approach to plastic recycling by Worcester Polytechnic Institute Chemical Engine...

https://jasondeegan.com/no-one-believed-it-but-the-u-s-is-set-to-profit-from-a-discovery-that-transforms-plastic-waste-into-hydrogen/ "specialized catalysts initiate PET decomposition into aromatic compound xylene p, then into high quality green hydrogen and a fundamental chemical building block, through rotary detonation combustion, without releasing harmful emissions... integrates organic liquid hydrogen carriers storing/ transporting hydrogen produced... eco-friendly, cost-effective, scalable" Related: Protonera's breakthrough technology transforms plastic into hydrogen fuel https://seedlegals.com/resources/founder-interview-protonera/ Hard-to-recycle thermoset waste plastics reborn as hydrogen https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-hard-recycle-thermoset-plastics-reborn.html From plastic waste to clean hydrogen: A scalable solar-powered solution https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1086893 Breakthrough engineered enzyme for recycling of PET bottle and blended fibers ...

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-plastic-supercapacitors-energy-storage-problems.html "100X higher electrical conductivity, 4X greater electrochemically active surface area, nearly 1 order magnitude higher charge storage capaciy... add drop of liquid containing graphene oxide nanoflakes/ ferric chloride on graphite sheet exposed sample to vapor of precursor molecules, which then eventually forms PEDOT polymer that grows into thick, fur-like vertical nanofibers that have a large surface area with large energy storage capacity" Related: Pioneering recipe for conductive plastics paves way for human bodies to go online https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-recipe-plastics-paves-human-bodies.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-plastic-crystals-greenhouse-gases-refrigerators.html "R-134a hydrofluorocarbon largely replacse freon, while not breaking down Earth's ozone layer, is greenhouse gas... replacement with plastic organic ionic crystals, whose moleculest when pressurized move from disorganized to neat grid, absorbing heat/ chilling surrounding air... when pressure released returns to disorganized... pulls heat from air ranging from -37 to 10°C... compression chamber repeatedly squeezes/ un-squeezes crystals, added fan blows chilled air into area around device... future: less pressure/ cost"

https://materials.princeton.edu/news/2024/stretchable-flexible-recyclable-plastic-fantastic "block thermoplastic elastomers, 1 cent/ g, 3D printed into stiff 5-7 nm thin cylindrical structures inside stretchy polymer matrix... forms controllable nanostructures... different regions of block copolymer chain separate instead of mixing, enabling stiff cylinders within stretchy matrix... printing rate/ controlled under-extrusion controls output's properties... thermal annealing enables self-healing... soft robots, biomedical devices, prosthetics, strong lightweight helmets, custom high-performance shoe soles, wearable electronics" Related: 3D printing method producing shape-shifting liquid metal robotics with musculoskeletal qualities inspired by animal physiology https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/12/giving-animal-strength-medical-robotics Scientists make breakthrough in self-repairing plastic to reduce waste https://www.pandct.com/news/scientists-make-breakthrough-in-se...

https://www.biobasedpress.eu/2024/12/doppelganger-plastics-a-more-desirable-alternative/ "more controlled, highly customizable, less energy intensive... sugar derived from industrial starch bio-feedstock... same manufacturing, converting or recycling equipment... gas barrier better than PET... replaces  champagne/ sparkling wine heavy glass bottles... desirable side products of its chemistry: key intermediate hydroxymethylfurfural as replacement for formaldehyde;  combined with lignin creatin binders for construction industry... also, agricultural waste, recycled fibres/ trees, can be substituted for starch" Related: Future Bio commercializing plastic that can be easily broken down into basic components https://finance.yahoo.com/news/startup-makes-incredible-breakthrough-could-163000282.html

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2024/10/nature-and-plastics-inspire-breakthrough-in-soft-sustainable-materials/ "bio- compatible/ degradable, sustainably sourced, flexible, soft, formed by peptide amphiphiles/ piezoelectric fluoride plastic drives molecular self-assembly when placed in water... tunable peptide sequence tunes ferroelectricity... low external voltage switches multiaxial polarity in multiple directions around circle... ferroelectrics: biomedical devices/ implants, ultralight smart fabrics, human-computer interface, microscopic memory chips, sensors, catalytic processes in renewable energy storage” Related: Exploring BiFeO₃'s piezocatalytic potential: From materials engineering to diverse applications https://phys.org/news/2025-02-exploring-bifeo-piezocatalytic-potential-materials.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-bacteria-thermally-stable-plastics-similar.html "metabolic pathway recombining enzymes from other microorganisms that allowed E. coli to produce/ tolerate accumulation of polymers entirely of ring-like monomers with phenyllactate aromatic sidechains... enabled using polymerase enzyme engineered using computer-simulations... produces 12.3 g/L polymer (poly(D phenyllactate))... also developing polymers with higher molecular weights required for various industrial applications... biomedical (drug delivery)... goal: >100 g/L enabling commercialization" Related: Coaxing purple bacteria into becoming bioplastic factories https://phys.org/news/2024-08-coaxing-purple-bacteria-bioplastic-factories.html Roasting chestnuts, recycling walnuts: turning festive treats into sustainable new materials https://phys.org/news/2024-12-roasting-chestnuts-recycling-walnuts-festive.html Breaking barriers in polymer tech: PBS vitrimers for greener futures https://phys...

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-small-molecule-eutectics-potential-plastics.html "hydrophobic eutectics: small organic crystalline mixtures form glasses/ viscous liquids, replacing polymers... differential scanning calorimetry/ UV-vis spectroscopy determined compositions, trained partial least squares regression model optimized blends... durable, resistant to crystallization... good processability: low fragility indices... can incorporate plasticizers... non-covalent analog to dynamic reversible macromolecular covalent vitrimers... drug delivery, glassblowing, fiber pulling, film formation, molding"

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-3d-materials-future-generations-stronger.html "studied: fused filament 3D printing using polyetherimide across 4 different lattice designs built at 3 different relative wall thicknesses... surprisingly, energy absorption attribute worst when >2 plastic strand layers laid next to each other... best-performing lattices had cell walls no more than twice as thick as that of polyetherimide strand... more crash-resistant cars, where plastic lattice helps absorb impact, aerospace design, where lightness could enable more fuel-efficient aircraft" Related: Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-method-pvc-products.html Steel yourselves: Quicker, better processing for strong plastics https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068320 New composite structure boosts polypropylene’s low-temperature toughness https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1076148 Impact-resistant material mimics m...

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-faster-energy-efficient-industrially-important.html "propylene made from propylene, which is made from propane and metal catalyst (chromium or platinum) on support material (aluminum oxide or silicon dioxide) using high temperature... faster, more energy-efficient propylene production... zirconium combined with silicon nitride enhances catalytic conversion (faster, less toxic, less energy since temperature 842 vs. 1,022°F, cheaper since no precious metal)... may also be applicable to other materials' manufacture"

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-polymerization-approach-specialty-plastics.html "eco-friendly methylene blue and water, low-energy longer wavelength red/ near IR (maintain efficient polymerization even in larger reactors), during emulsion polymerization... precisely control resulting polymers' molecular weight, dispersity using light-driven mini-emulsion atom transfer radical polymerization stringing together monomers piece-by-piece... light doesn't scatter shining into emulsion making light uniformly available throughout/ faster reactions better control... paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants" Related: Researchers develop hook-and-loop fastener for building components https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-loop-components.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-07-styrofoam-polymers-electronics.html "PEDOT:PSS has both electronic, ionic conductivity... sulfonating polystyrene using reagent efficient enough but doesn't mess up polymer chain... 1,3-Disulfonic acid imidazolium chloride... high polymer sulfonation, minimal defects, high efficiency, all while using eco-friendly mild sulfonating agent... varying stoichiometric ratios of starting materials during reaction changing degree of sulfonation,.. upscale into electronic devices including silicon-based hybrid solar cells, organic electrochemical transistors"

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-hydrogel-microplastics.html "3D 3-layer intertwined polymers: chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, polyaniline... infused with copper substitute polyoxometalate nanoclusters, catalyzed using UV to degrade, bind as Interpenetrating Polymer Network, strong hydrogel stable under various temperatures... up to 5 cycles microplastic removal without significant efficacy loss, then repurposed into carbon nanomaterials removing heavy metals like hexavalent chromium from polluted water... removes about 95% and 93% of 2 types of microplastics in water at near-neutral pH" Related: Low-cost method removes micro- and nanoplastics from water https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1064544 Cellulose and chitin foam can remove nearly all microplastics from water https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/cellulose-and-chitin-foam-can-remove-nearly-all-microplastics-from-water/4020635.article Cotton-and-squid-bone sponge can soak up 99.9% of microplastics, scientists say https:...

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-microbial-plastic-factory-high-quality.html "bacteria (can use CO2 as raw material) produce more processable, scalable plastic modifier... mix polylactic acid with bacteria-produced LAHB bioplastic...bacteria naturally produces precursor, then manipulate organism's genome through gene addition/ deletion enabling LAHB chains up to 10X longer... high degree of melt tension during LAHB manufacture in high amounts, using glucose as feedstock... highly transparent plastic, moldable, more shock resistant, biodegrades in seawater within week" Related: Researchers develop eggshell 'bioplastic' pellet as sustainable alternative to plastic https://phys.org/news/2024-04-eggshell-bioplastic-pellet-sustainable-alternative.html Biodegradable 'living plastic' houses bacterial spores that help it break down https://phys.org/news/2024-04-biodegradable-plastic-houses-bacterial-spores.html Team develops technology for producing bioplastics from ...

https://phys.org/news/2024-03-rapid-production-isocyanate-free-biobased.html "using water to generate foaming agent and cyclic carbonates and amines catalyst... cascade reactions spontaneously... both rigid and flexible PU foams without external heat source, high biobased content (70%–90%), produced <2 minutes... part of cyclic carbonates transformed into blowing agent (CO2) expanding matrix, other part contributes to formation, hardening... simple, modular, robust" Related: Self-Healing and Biodegradable Ionic Polyurethane https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=35062 Bio-based method creates polyurethane without toxic chemicals https://phys.org/news/2025-03-bio-based-method-polyurethane-toxic.html Sustainable polyurethane production without toxic isocyanate https://phys.org/news/2026-02-sustainable-polyurethane-production-toxic-isocyanate.html

https://phys.org/news/2024-03-holographic-message-encoded-simple-plastic.html "adjusting thickness of the plate in just the right way, point by point, the superposition of all THz waves shined on plate produces exactly the desired image... calculate how thick the plate has to be at each point, so that it changes the terahertz wave in exactly the right way, to generate correct code... 3D print thickness profile plastic plate to store information holographically... shining THz of correct wavelength through this plastic plate eveals THZ ray image... cheaply store bitcoin, QR code"

https://phys.org/news/2023-11-chemist-plastic-alternatives-proteins-scraps.html "chemical link binds protein molecules together, creating a dimer (molecule composed of 2 proteins) which is joined with another dimer to create tetramer, and so on until large 3D polymer... enables to behave like plastic, can stretch, change shape, and fold... biodegrade, degrades few days in acid... coffee cup lids, thin transparent films, fire-resistant roof tiles, car doors, rocket cone tips, or heart valves... 2nd technology proteins reinforced with cotton... attraction makes strong protein-fabric shoes, desks, flowers, and chairs" Related: Researchers develop eco-friendly material from mushrooms, coffee grounds and natural pineapple fibers https://phys.org/news/2024-01-eco-friendly-material-mushrooms-coffee.html Plants you can wear: Hydrogel material weaves seeds into textiles https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-hydrogel-material-seeds-textiles.html#google_vignette Cleaner rayon fiber produc...

https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-recycling-plastics.html "requires 94% less energy and 96% less fossil fuel... works for >30% of all plastics including composites and multilayer packaging... synthetic organocatalyst deconstructs at different temperatures: Polycarbonates at 266° F, polyurethanes at 320° F, polyethylene terephthalates at 356° F and polyamides at 410° F... works in 2 hours... other plastics, additives and associated materials such as cotton and plastic bags left intact and subsequently recovered... filtration removes impurities (pigments), then monomers, then catalyst, reused" Related: Scientists create artificial protein capable of degrading microplastics in bottles https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-artificial-protein-capable-degrading.html Scientists find hundreds of toxic chemicals in recycled plastics https://phys.org/news/2023-11-scientists-hundreds-toxic-chemicals-recycled.html Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past https://phys....