Polymer chemist Athina Anastasaki talks about establishing her career, inroads into polymer recycling, and resilience in academia.
Hatice Mutlu: Circular chemistry through degradable, metamorphosing polymers
Chemist Hatice Mutlu applies zero-waste methods to create biodegradable polymers that can be used perpetually.
Crawling Earthworm robots get a soft polymer boost
The replacement of rigid parts could help robots more closely mimic the humble worm to help them squeeze into tight spots.
Red is the new green: Making polymers in wine
To bring down the cost of a conventional reaction, researchers are turning to green chemistry and wine to provide the right conditions.
Art of Polymers compositions transform chemicals into a concert
Composers with the Multiverse Concert Series work with chemists to turn polymeric structures into musical works of art.
Machine learning helps create polymer electrolyte for batteries
Automated molecule design through machine learning helps scientists identify and synthesize a new polymer electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.
Broad-spectrum antivirals made from polymers
Polymer-based broad spectrum antivirals show activity against Zika, Ebola, HIV-1, the Herpes simplex virus, and now, SARS-CoV-2.
Making cochlear implants safer with self-shaping polymers
A shape-shifting polymer allows scientists to create a safer implantable device that results in less trauma upon insertion.
Conducting polymers go viral
Researchers have used helical virus particles as chiral templates for growing polymers with magnetic properties.
Spiral polymer stents treat coronary artery disease
Researchers have created an improved material for arterial stents, which could alleviate the symptoms of coronary artery disease and reduce the risk of heart attack in patients.