Ninja Polymers!

Seriously, having the word "ninja" associated with your research is just pretty awesome, no matter what your field is.  Researchers at IBM have produced a self-assembling, ninja polymer that targets and destroys bacteria, and then it disappears into the darkness (well, degrades in the body, but the ninja description is just too good here).  Read more about it here.

Oh no, Canada!

Seems that plastic currency still needs some tweaking, though the failure rate is still much less than 1%.  Read more here.

I am so sorry for missing your birthday, Polyethylene.

Dear Polyethylene,

I will just start by apologizing profusely. I am so sorry. I meant to wish you a happy birthday on March 27, but I was busy. I know, I know, everyone is busy, and it is not a super excuse. I am trusting that your compliant nature (at least at room temperature) will prevail, and we can be friends again.

In your honor, I am posting a link about your life story. It is hard to believe that you are almost 80 which is so young considering your wide-spread impact.

Next year we will celebrate properly (hopefully).

Sincerely,
Meisha

First BPA, Now BSE

Why I find this fascinating, I cannot explain. Like many folks out there, I dutifully replaced polycarbonate water bottles, food packaging, and baby bottles in my house following increased scrutiny of the health effects of BPA. The topic even comes up in Ph.D. proposals. Acceptance of the dangers of plastic materials by the public at large is seemingly easy and quick which is why this report concerning animal-free plastics from Plastics Today piqued my interest. I wonder how long it will be before this concern jumps from materials used in medical applications to commodity applications.