Pulling plastics from pulp -- biomass-based plastics become practical

Darkfrog submitted, created time 1 year 6 months (www.sciam.com)

Turning plant matter into new plastics has been possible for many years; it just hasn't been practical. The processes used to convert glucose to a base for plastics yields chunks of impurities. Using metal chlorides instead of acid catalysts, writes Scientific American, is up to 70% effective on glucose and 90% effective on fructose, both at temperatures of only 100C, as opposed to the 600C used in oil refining.

Full commercialization is still a few years off. This study comes out of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington

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Air quality vs. water quality: Should the dams stay or go?

Darkfrog submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.nytimes.com)

Evironmentalists are taking sides on the issue of hydroelectric dams on Oregon's Klamath river. Those in favor say that the dams provide clean, renewable energy. Those against cite dwindling salmon and other fish populations and the consequences for commercial and American Indian fishermen.

Building fish ladders over all four of the river's dams would cost $300 million. Whether the dams are removed or the ladders are built, the price of energy in Oregon will go up

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