• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Scientists make a phone that turns into a sunflower

T

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Text

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Scientists said on Monday they have come up with a cell phone cover that will grow into a sunflower when thrown away.

Materials company Pvaxx Research & Development, at the request of U.S.-based mobile phone maker Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), has come up with a polymer that looks like any other plastic, but which degrades into soil when discarded.

Researchers at the University of Warwick in Britain then helped to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed, which will feed on the nitrates that are formed when the polyvinylalcohol polymer cover turns to waste.

"It's a totally biodegradable and non-toxic plastic," said Pvaxx spokesman Peter Morris.

"This is the first product that we've made public. We're working with blue chip companies and will introduce several products next year," he said, adding it would be used in electronics, horticulture, ammunition and household cleaning.

The company's new plastic, which was created over the past five years but was in development for longer, can be rigid or flexible in shape.

Some 650 million mobile phones will be sold this year, and most of them will be thrown away within two years, burdening the environment with plastics, heavy metals and chemicals. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, Warwick University said.

Motorola said it had not yet decided if it would introduce a model built with the new plastic, and that it would take until at least the second quarter of 2005 to get a commercial product.

"(To improve) the quality (of the plastic) is something we're working on," said Motorola project manager Peter Shead, adding the new plastic may be used in snap-on covers first.

Many young consumers buy cheap and interchangeable plastic covers to personalize their standard phone.
Click to expand...

Hope this aint a repost, sarcehd for sunflower and phone.
 
That's cool... They need to make McDonalds bags and Tim Hortons cups out of this stuff too... All over the roads and ditches here in Ontario... freakin people that just throw garbage out the window!
 
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Seems like somewhat of a gimmick (being that people wouldn't really make use of it, I imagine), but kinda cool nonetheless.
Click to expand...

You might not use it directly... but when you throw it into the garbage and it ends up in a land fill... It will be used at that point of the cycle...
 
Maybe they should try to make a condom that will grow tobacco when discarded. That way I'll never have to run to the store after sex for a pack of smokes.
 
Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Seems like somewhat of a gimmick (being that people wouldn't really make use of it, I imagine), but kinda cool nonetheless.
Click to expand...

You might not use it directly... but when you throw it into the garbage and it ends up in a land fill... It will be used at that point of the cycle...
Click to expand...



Then it'll sit under a buch of garbage next to the fifty year old hot dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top