Dr. Joe Schwarcz

Right. Well, we will run out of fossil fuels. That's a given because the earth is of a finite size and, you know, we only have so much in terms of raw materials. I don't think we have to worry about running out of fossil fuels within our lifetime, but eventually it is going to happen. So there is a search for alternatives. Bio, of course, comes from the Greek word meaning life.

Right. Well, we will run out of fossil fuels. That's a given because the earth is of a finite size and, you know, we only have so much in terms of raw materials. I don't think we have to worry about running out of fossil fuels within our lifetime, but eventually it is going to happen. So there is a search for alternatives. Bio, of course, comes from the Greek word meaning life.

So we're looking for substances that are replaceable, usually because they are isolated from crops that can be grown. We cannot manufacture any petroleum, right? I mean, that's a given amount that we have in the earth. which is really the end result of the degradation of vegetable matter and animal matter over millennia.

So we're looking for substances that are replaceable, usually because they are isolated from crops that can be grown. We cannot manufacture any petroleum, right? I mean, that's a given amount that we have in the earth. which is really the end result of the degradation of vegetable matter and animal matter over millennia.

So we're looking for substances that are replaceable, usually because they are isolated from crops that can be grown. We cannot manufacture any petroleum, right? I mean, that's a given amount that we have in the earth. which is really the end result of the degradation of vegetable matter and animal matter over millennia.

So we're not going to replenish petroleum, but we can grow crops from which we can isolate useful components. So we can grow corn, we can grow canola from where we can extract oils, and those oils can be used as fuel. Those would then be termed as bio-based. That is certainly a legitimate endeavor. For example, we are already doing that to some extent.

So we're not going to replenish petroleum, but we can grow crops from which we can isolate useful components. So we can grow corn, we can grow canola from where we can extract oils, and those oils can be used as fuel. Those would then be termed as bio-based. That is certainly a legitimate endeavor. For example, we are already doing that to some extent.

So we're not going to replenish petroleum, but we can grow crops from which we can isolate useful components. So we can grow corn, we can grow canola from where we can extract oils, and those oils can be used as fuel. Those would then be termed as bio-based. That is certainly a legitimate endeavor. For example, we are already doing that to some extent.

As you may know, gasoline can have up to 10% ethanol content. And that ethanol can come from corn because the glucose in corn can be fermented to produce alcohol. So that would be biofuel. And then, of course, we also talk about biodegradable substances. And that is also a very important concept in terms of environmentalism.

As you may know, gasoline can have up to 10% ethanol content. And that ethanol can come from corn because the glucose in corn can be fermented to produce alcohol. So that would be biofuel. And then, of course, we also talk about biodegradable substances. And that is also a very important concept in terms of environmentalism.

As you may know, gasoline can have up to 10% ethanol content. And that ethanol can come from corn because the glucose in corn can be fermented to produce alcohol. So that would be biofuel. And then, of course, we also talk about biodegradable substances. And that is also a very important concept in terms of environmentalism.

because we don't want substances building up in the environment that will stay there forever. We would like them to decompose into innocuous substances. So there's a lot of work on that as well, especially when it comes to plastics. Plastics have been demonized recently. And there's, of course, some legitimacy to that.

because we don't want substances building up in the environment that will stay there forever. We would like them to decompose into innocuous substances. So there's a lot of work on that as well, especially when it comes to plastics. Plastics have been demonized recently. And there's, of course, some legitimacy to that.

because we don't want substances building up in the environment that will stay there forever. We would like them to decompose into innocuous substances. So there's a lot of work on that as well, especially when it comes to plastics. Plastics have been demonized recently. And there's, of course, some legitimacy to that.

We don't like to see plastic bags fluttering in the breeze or hanging in trees. We don't want to hear about this giant plastic garbage patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We don't want to hear about nanoplastics, which are the end product of the badgering by sunlight and waves of plastics that get into the ocean and which eventually end up in our body, right?

We don't like to see plastic bags fluttering in the breeze or hanging in trees. We don't want to hear about this giant plastic garbage patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We don't want to hear about nanoplastics, which are the end product of the badgering by sunlight and waves of plastics that get into the ocean and which eventually end up in our body, right?

We don't like to see plastic bags fluttering in the breeze or hanging in trees. We don't want to hear about this giant plastic garbage patch in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We don't want to hear about nanoplastics, which are the end product of the badgering by sunlight and waves of plastics that get into the ocean and which eventually end up in our body, right?

We don't want micro nanoplastics ending up in our body. So the question is to produce substances that are biodegradable, meaning that they will break down. And we can do that with certain plastics. Polylactic acid, for example, is made from corn, and it is biodegradable. However, there's a but. There always is a but in science. We tend to give with one arm and take away with the other.

We don't want micro nanoplastics ending up in our body. So the question is to produce substances that are biodegradable, meaning that they will break down. And we can do that with certain plastics. Polylactic acid, for example, is made from corn, and it is biodegradable. However, there's a but. There always is a but in science. We tend to give with one arm and take away with the other.

We don't want micro nanoplastics ending up in our body. So the question is to produce substances that are biodegradable, meaning that they will break down. And we can do that with certain plastics. Polylactic acid, for example, is made from corn, and it is biodegradable. However, there's a but. There always is a but in science. We tend to give with one arm and take away with the other.