If you look in the refrigerator, there’s a good chance you’ll find some plastic wrap covering some of the food.
It’s useful stuff, but not very eco-friendly.
Now there’s a green alternative to plastic food wrap, and it’s not exactly wrap.
You kind of spray it on.
This is a project out of Rutgers University.
They wanted to come up with packaging that kept food safe but didn’t have any single-use, petroleum-based plastic in it.
What they came up with was a plastic-like substance that’s made from biopolymers.
These can be made out of food waste, which is kind of perfect because the wrap can then prevent further food waste.
The way that you wrap the food is pretty wild.
The scientists describe it as like the web shooters that Spider-Man uses: the stuff comes out in strings from a device that’s sort of like a hair dryer.
Then it clings to the food just like shrink-wrap.
It works at least as well, if not better, than traditional plastic wrap, and when you’re ready to use the food, you can just wash this wrap away with some water.
They call these “smart fibers” – it occurred to me that this is a greener way to keep our greens green.
Or maybe smart fibers is just fine.
WONKY ROAD | Drivers in Hollister are confused by some new road lines along Ladd Lane. Some people chose to ignore them, while others went along for the loopy ride. The city says the lines will be fixed. pic.twitter.com/eqxfJFkoxk
— KSBW Action News 8 (@ksbw) July 23, 2022
Officials in Hollister, California wanted new street lines painted.
They wanted these lines to be slightly curved, to help slow traffic and to make room for a bike lane.
But somehow the contractors painted a zig-zag pattern.
Hollister’s perplexed mayor said, “It was not designed to look very odd.”
Rutgers Scientist Develops Antimicrobial, Plant-Based Food Wrap Designed to Replace Plastic (Rutgers)
Incorrectly painted lanes on street cause confusion in Hollister (KSBW)
You know what else is really useful? Having Patreon backers, since they make this show possible
