ASK A SCIENTIST
Do you ever wonder about various aspects of plastics and plastic pollution? Our science director, Trisha Vaidyanathan, Ph.D., is here to shed some light on these questions in her monthly column, “Ask a Scientist.”
Got a question? If you would like to ask a question for Trisha’s consideration, please submit it using this form. Please note that we cannot guarantee an answer to every question we receive.
Why is it so hard to make a biodegradable plastic?
“Biodegradable” means that biological organisms, like bacteria and fungi, break something down until there’s nothing left but carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and something called biomass (natural material from living things). Learn more about the challenges of making a truly biodegradable plastic.