Frontiers in Science: Breaking the cycle of plastic pollution

The plastic we use today in staggering amounts takes more than 400 years to degrade, but imagine if it could be replaced with a sustainable, environmentally friendly version?

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s biochemist Taraka Dale believes it’s possible — and soon. In this new presentation of Frontiers in Science, Dale will explore how the Lab and its partners are using R&D 100 award-winning smart microbial cell technology to upcycle today’s plastic trash and design degradable plastics for the future.

This groundbreaking work is part of the Department of Energy’s new Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment, aka the BOTTLE program. You can learn about smart microbial cells in this recent 1663 article

Have a question about this fascinating topic that you would like Frontiers in Science to answer? Send your question to mhester@lanl.gov by Sept. 6.

Frontiers in Science is a series presented by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellows. This episode will launch on the Los Alamos National Lab YouTube channel at 6 p.m. on Sept. 29. Subscribe to the channel.

Wednesday, Sept. 29
6 p.m. 
YouTube - Los Alamos National Lab