this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
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Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours (www.reuters.com)
submitted 1 day ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[โ€“] rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

From the article:

Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain.

As salt is also present in soil, a piece about five centimetres (two inches) in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added.

The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team are focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added.

So I think the next thing the goose wants to know is, what's it being coated with?

[โ€“] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 20 hours ago

Is it made of snails?

(/s, in case anyone wants to take that seriously)