Is plastic as bad as we think it is? Do we need to get rid of all plastic in the world... or should we continue using it for more innovations?! Tune in to find out.
VISUAL REFERENCES
The First Synthetic Plastic
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm’s offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. The growing popularity of billiards had put a strain on the supply of natural ivory, obtained through the slaughter of wild elephants. By treating cellulose, derived from cotton fiber, with camphor, Hyatt discovered a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.
New Plastic
In 1907 Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature.
Stay tuned for next week’s episode. We'll talk about water. What is happening, are we running out of it, and where do we stand in general with this natural resource. What is the conspirac-TEA? Well, you’ll have to stay tuned till next week to find out. See ya’ll then!
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