alt Hacker NewsAny article about biodegradable plastics should start with advantages over cellophane/cellulose.
People have figured out how to make it a hundred years ago, it's already used for food packaging, known properties, abundant and cheap - made from trees / other plants.
The article starts as if it's some breakthrough miracle which is unheard of. I can literally just buy compostable bags for organic waste made of corn starch on Amazon. It's already a product.
Journalist demonstrate less awareness than 8B LLM. Scientist tells you about a new plastic? Ask them how it's better than what's already on the market.
Replies
> I can literally just buy compostable bags for organic waste made of corn starch on Amazon.
They compost, but they don't biodegrade. The difference is whether it breaks into microplastics or dissolves/is digested in the ocean.
> Any article about biodegradable plastics should start with advantages over cellophane/cellulose.
Well, I guess it starts with the plastic being thermoplastic.
> Story Source:
> Materials provided by Flinders University.
It's not that the "journalist" didn't think to ask, it's that this is a PR piece sent out to media outlets from the university that did the research. Nearly all universities have a PR team that sets fluff pieces out to the media to promote the work of the university.
The person who wrote this is being paid not to ask tough and important questions around this research.