Goodbye Plastic? Scientists Create New Supermaterial That Could Transform Modern Manufacturing

Rice University and the University of Houston developed a rotational bioreactor that aligns cellulose-producing bacteria during growth.

The process produces bacterial-cellulose sheets with much higher strength and better thermal performance than conventional versions.

A hybrid material reinforced with boron nitride nanosheets further boosts heat handling and functionality.

The work, published in Nature Communications, points to scalable biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics for packaging and electronics.