Ocean-Friendly Plastic Dissolves in Hours, Feeds Marine Bacteria

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

This Week’s Top 5 News Articles

🐠 Ocean-Friendly Plastic Dissolves in Hours, Feeds Marine Bacteria

☀️ A New Solar Reactor Could Make Green Hydrogen Affordable

🍫 Turning Beer Waste Into Sustainable Chocolate Hits 7-Eleven Shelves

💧 New Water Filter Promises to Remove Toxic “Forever Chemicals

🪨 Superhot Rocks Offer Scalable Clean Power Beyond Geothermal Limits

+Other Articles You May Like

+ NEW: Invite a Friend, Unlock a $197 Brinc Academy Course for Free!

+PLUS: FREE guide about “70+ Questions from Venture Capitalists!”

Ocean-Friendly Plastic Dissolves in Hours, Feeds Marine Bacteria LINK

• Researchers created a durable plastic that dissolves entirely in seawater, breaking down into non-toxic molecules consumed by ocean bacteria, eliminating microplastic pollution risks.

• The plastic can be customized for strength and flexibility, molded at high temperatures, and recycled efficiently, recovering up to 91% of its components after use.

• Made with low-cost, scalable methods, the material could replace traditional plastics across industries, from 3D printing to farming, where its phosphorus content might act as fertilizer.

A New Solar Reactor Could Make Green Hydrogen Affordable LINK 

• Japanese researchers developed a sunlight-powered reactor using photocatalytic sheets to efficiently split water into hydrogen and oxygen, offering a sustainable method to produce green hydrogen.

• A two-step photocatalyst system increases solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, enabling energy storage for use during non-sunny periods, though further material improvements are needed for durability and safety.

• This breakthrough could make green hydrogen cost-effective, supporting Japan's vision of a hydrogen society and addressing global renewable energy challenges with scalable and sustainable solutions.

Turning Beer Waste Into Sustainable Chocolate Hits 7-Eleven Shelves LINK

• Danish startup Endless Food Co uses beer brewing waste, known as brewer’s spent grain (BSG), to create a cocoa-free chocolate alternative, THIC, which has 80-90% lower emissions than traditional chocolate.

• Endless Food Co partnered with 7-Eleven Denmark to launch cookies featuring THIC, with plans for additional products, making sustainable chocolate alternatives accessible on a national scale.

• THIC addresses cocoa-related deforestation and emissions while repurposing brewing industry waste, offering a scalable and eco-friendly solution for the future of chocolate production.

New Water Filter Promises to Remove Toxic “Forever Chemicals LINK

• Scientists at the Technical University of Munich developed a filter material made from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that traps PFAS efficiently, outperforming traditional methods like activated carbon.

• The filters use adaptable pore sizes and an electrostatically charged surface to capture even the most harmful PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, at low concentrations. They are fast-acting and reusable.

• While the technology is promising, scaling it for widespread use in water treatment will require further research to ensure it is sustainable, cost-effective, and safe, offering hope for cleaner drinking water globally.

Superhot Rocks Offer Scalable Clean Power Beyond Geothermal Limits LINK

• Scientists highlight superhot rocks—heated to over 705°F deep within Earth's crust—as a promising renewable energy source for clean, reliable, and abundant power.

• Advanced drilling technologies aim to access these deep rocks globally, converting their extreme heat into electricity or hydrogen, potentially matching fossil fuel scalability and cost.

• While requiring 6-mile-deep drilling and enhanced tools, companies like Quaise Energy are pioneering methods to harness this "geothermal holy grail," paving the way for scalable renewable energy.