Shiny Particles from Plants
Duration: 1 min 41 secs
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About this item
Description: | The BIP group explores how plants and animals create vivid colours and what we can learn from them. Through these videos, and with the frequent help of electron microscopes, you will have a chance to see the world through our eyes, the eyes of young scientists from across the world working on a wide range of natural and naturally-inspired materials – in this video Benjamin Droguet looks at shiny particles from plants. |
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Created: | 2021-03-26 11:37 |
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Collection: | Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry Cambridge Festival 2021 |
Publisher: | University of Cambridge |
Copyright: | University of Cambridge |
Language: | eng (English) |
Distribution: | World (downloadable) |
Keywords: | BIP; Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry; Cambridge Festival; Benjamin Droguet; |
Explicit content: | No |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
Screencast: | No |
Bumper: | minimal black |
Trailer: | minimal black |
Transcript
Transcript:
Glitter … these tiny and shiny particles are often associated with celebrations but also, sadly, with plastic pollution. Glitter has interested humans for centuries and was used as far back as the Mayan civilization, more than 1000 years ago. Of course, Ancient Mayans did not have access to plastic but instead used a ground mineral called mica to give their temples a lavish appearance when lit by the sun.
As the saying goes, all that glitters is not gold … and certainly not the glitter you can see here. While most modern glitter particles are made from potentially troublesome materials including synthetic polymers, it is possible to make shiny particles using only molecules extracted from plants. The trick lies in the structuration of the material at the nanoscale, an unimaginably tiny scale, to reflect specific colours when light shines on it.
Such particles will easily biodegrade after use, minimising their impact on the environment … for some truly guilt-free and glittery celebratory moments!
As the saying goes, all that glitters is not gold … and certainly not the glitter you can see here. While most modern glitter particles are made from potentially troublesome materials including synthetic polymers, it is possible to make shiny particles using only molecules extracted from plants. The trick lies in the structuration of the material at the nanoscale, an unimaginably tiny scale, to reflect specific colours when light shines on it.
Such particles will easily biodegrade after use, minimising their impact on the environment … for some truly guilt-free and glittery celebratory moments!
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