Frontiers in Science: Breaking the cycle of plastic pollution

Biochemist Taraka Dale discusses the smart cells that could clean up our future

September 1, 2021

Taraka Dale Opt
Taraka Dale

The plastic we use today in staggering amounts takes more than 400 years to degrade, but imagine if it could be replaced with a sustainable, environmentally friendly version?

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s biochemist Taraka Dale believes it’s possible — and soon. In this new presentation of Frontiers in Science, Dale will explore how the Lab and its partners are using R&D 100 award-winning smart microbial cell technology to upcycle today’s plastic trash and design degradable plastics for the future.

This groundbreaking work is part of the Department of Energy’s new Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment, aka the BOTTLE program. You can learn about smart microbial cells in this recent 1663 article

Have a question about this fascinating topic that you would like Frontiers in Science to answer? Send your question to mhester@lanl.gov by Sept. 6.

Frontiers in Science is a series presented by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellows. This episode will launch on the Los Alamos National Lab YouTube channel at 6 p.m. on Sept. 29. To subscribe to the channel, click here.

Wednesday, Sept. 29
6 p.m. 
YouTube - Los Alamos National Lab