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Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Making Biodegradable Plastics Disappear

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By Laura Tran, C2ST Intern, Rush University

Biodegradables won’t solve our plastic crisis. Despite our efforts to recycle, the overall amount of plastic that is recycled is less than 9% in the U.S.¹. Many people do not recycle for several reasons, such as a lack of knowledge for what is recyclable and where to sort it, or they lack access to appropriate and convenient recycling facilities. To combat this issue, today’s biodegradable plastics are advertised as a solution to the world’s increasing plastic pollution problem. However, these materials come with their own challenges.

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Taste of Science: Fermented Beverages

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By Laura Tran, C2ST Intern, Rush University

Credit: Chenfu Hsing, https://news.mit.edu/2021/living-materials-kombucha-0111

Over the last decade there has been a health craze brewing over kombucha (kuhm-boo-chuh) and other fermented drinks and food (e.g., yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, and kimchi). Like coffee and tea, kombucha has origins dating back to over 2,000 years ago. As kombucha spread across the world due to expanding trade routes, so did the number of beneficial health claims. What is kombucha and does this superfood live up to its reputation?

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Artificial Wombs: From Science Fiction to Reality

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By Laura Tran, C2ST Intern, Rush University

While the idea of growing babies outside of the body in artificial wombs sounds like something out of a work of science fiction, research has brought it much closer to becoming reality. Over the last decade, research groups have been exploring the possibility of artificial gestation (pregnancy) in a number of different ways. Continue reading “Artificial Wombs: From Science Fiction to Reality”