A podcast about the surprising ways that science evolves. Through conversations with scientists, we trace the technology, theories, and products we see around us today back to early discoveries in the lab, while also imagining where future breakthroughs could take us.
A series of expert interviews that showcase the work of Berkeley Lab researchers, connecting audiences with the people behind the science. Listen to our scientists discuss how their groundbreaking research enables science solutions for the world.
Mapping the blueprint of life can help us advance our understanding of Earth systems and develop innovative energy technologies and bio-based products. The Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a Department of Energy user facility, offers large-scale genomic sequencing, synthesis, and metabolomic expertise to scientists around the world. Bringing together this expertise in one facility, the JGI offers an unrivaled capacity to help us understand biology today to develop breakthroughs for tomorrow. Listen to this interview to learn how the JGI supports the research community.
Why isn’t more plastic actually recyclable? Why don’t compostable forks actually compost? And when are we going to solve our waste problems?
This episode features three scientists working to manage the planet’s plastic addiction by developing smarter materials that avoid the pitfalls of 20th century plastics. We talk about the challenges of the current recycling and composting systems, philosophies of materials design, why trying to recycle some things is just “wishcycling,” why consumer preferences matter, and why we can allow ourselves to feel a little optimism — even though the news paints a pretty bleak picture sometimes.
Featuring:
Brett Helms, a materials scientist at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry. Helms leads a team that invented an infinitely recyclable plastic and is now working to bring it to the market.
Ting Xu is a senior materials scientist and chemist at Berkeley Lab and professor at UC Berkeley. Her lab is developing non-toxic compostable plastics that stay durable when in use, but break down easily in the environment.
Corinne Scown is a scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area and director of Techno-economic Analysis at the Joint BioEnergy Institute. She performs techno- economic and lifecycle analyses for Brett, Ting, and other scientists, meaning that she models the inputs, outputs, prices, and environmental impact of materials so that we can understand how they will perform on an industrial scale before they actually get to the industrial scale.