When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
There is no argument that plastic has been one of the greatest creations of human kind, and at the same time, one of the worst. The creation of plastic helped human beings put a man on the moon, create vast communication networks that link us more closely together than at any time in history, and enjoy Jell-O on the go! However, plastic also packs landfills, harms wildlife, contaminates waterways (even in microbead form) and has created a global litter crisis on the high seas.
Plastic is lightweight, durable and versatile. It’s truly a wonder material and we use it in virtually every aspect of modern life. The problem with plastic is how to dispose of it once we’re done using it.
Recycling is one option, and we’ve made great strides in that direction. Still, some types of plastic are harder (and less profitable) to recycle than others. According to the EPA, in 2013, Americans recycled over 31 percent of all the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars used, and about 28 percent of all the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) used. Pigments in plastic limit how it can be used post-recycling — and limit its appeal to the companies that need to make a profit off recycling plastic. Sorting different types of plastic to be recycled has also been a challenge. Low oil prices around the world also mean it’s actually cheaper for some companies to make new plastic than recycle old stuff.
Of course, the ultimate goal of recycling is to keep plastic out of landfills. Other types of material that end up in landfills — food waste, wood scraps, metal, etc. — will break down over time, thanks to bacteria that consume the molecules those items are made of. Plastic, however, is bacteria resistant, which is one of the things that makes it useful in applications from plumbing to food packaging. That resistance means no known bacteria can “eat” plastic to help remove it from the waste stream — until now.
According to a report in the journal Science, researchers in Japan have discovered a new strain of plastic-eating bacteria living happily on plastic debris found outside a recycling plant in Sakai, Japan. The bacteria appears to be able to break down the lengthy molecular chains of PET by dicing them into smaller, more digestible pieces, while releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts of the process, NPR reports.
The bacteria isn’t a viable alternative to recycling yet — the microscopic critters eat too slowly to make a significant dent in the mounds of plastic we need to get rid of, plus the last thing we need is more CO2 to contribute to global warming. But, with some engineering, the “polymer chomper” — as NPR dubbed it — could be made to work better, faster and more efficiently. If and when that happens, the burp of satisfied bacteria could signal the end to our plastics disposal problems!
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