MSU Says They Can Recycle Windmill Blades Into Gummy Bears
Researchers at Michigan State want to start making wind turbine blades out of a new material that can later be recycled into delicious gummy bears.
Windmill Farms Dot The Michigan Landscape, But What Becomes Of The Blades?
The sky high towers that are becoming more frequent around the Mitten State have begun generating a clean energy for many residents, but the debate has been going on since their inception about replacing the giant blades.
Disposing of the blades into local landfills has proven to negate the benefits of having wind energy to begin with, so what if we could recycle them, and make them into treats! Double win!
Scientists At Michigan State Have Taken Recycling To A Sweet Place
Researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing have developed a new turbine material, which has glass fibers combined with a plant-derived and synthetic polymer. The resin can be dissolved after use, and to prove their point, the scientists on the project put it into an alkaline solution to make potassium lactate, which they purified and made into gummy bears!
But how did they taste?
“A carbon atom derived from a plant, like corn or grass, is no different from a carbon atom that came from a fossil fuel,” said John Dorga, PhD, who presented the project. “It’s all part of the global carbon cycle, and we’ve shown that we can go from biomass in the field to durable plastic materials and back to foodstuffs.”
That really didn't answer the question, but okay.
The Point Is That The Blades Can Be Recycled Into Many Things
The gummy bears were just one result of the recycling. The polymer can also be made into other practical applications like absorbent diapers, and even countertops.
"We've recently made a bathroom sink with the cultured stone, so we know it works," Dorgan told C-Net. "And the dissolved material can be combined with plastics too, which gives rise to more luxe items, like laptop covers and power tools."
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There currently are zero plans to actually make gummy bears out of the polymer and put it on the market, it was a stunt to prove the recycled material is harmless to humans.
But that hasn't some people from twisting the shiznit out of this story.
Nobody WANTS you to eat gummies made from wind blades, Goofus.
As the great Stevie Wonder once sang, 'When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer.
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