/oss/taxonomy/term/2537/all en /oss/article/environment-did-you-know/dark-side-black-plastics <p>I’m sitting here looking around my office for anything made of black plastic. The casing of my computer is in that category, so is my coffee machine, my printer, my cell phone stand, my stapler, a bunch of pens that clutter my desk, my electronic car key, an electric heater, a flower pot, the carbon atoms in my molecular models, the armrest on my chair and a garbage can as well as the garbage bag inside it. Even some of the ducks that adorn my shelves are made of black plastic! No, I am not bored or mentally disturbed.</p> Thu, 17 Aug 2023 20:17:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9603 at /oss /oss/article/environment-climate-change/polyethylene-furanoate-coming-dont-be-scared <p>If you are scared of chemical terminology, you may think you are in for a bumpy ride. But fear not, you do not need a degree in chemistry to follow this discussion. Buckle up, and let’s go. </p> Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:38:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9211 at /oss /oss/article/videos-environment/right-chemistry-how-use-plastics-wisely <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-t9ieru-ajuw" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/t9IERU-AJUw?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-t9ieru-ajuw&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely</iframe> </div> </p> Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:10:41 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8185 at /oss /oss/article/videos-environment/right-chemistry-recycling-polystyrene <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-llj4hjbmxt8" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/llJ4HJbmXt8?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-llj4hjbmxt8&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:32:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8100 at /oss /oss/article/technology-environment/rethinking-your-garbage <p>Do you ever wonder what happens to your garbage after you throw it out? While we hope that the recyclable materials we painstakingly sort out ends up being recycled, the garbage usually piles up in the landfill. Although the landfill may be a solution for our “throwaway” society, it isn't quite a permanent one. Think about how the increasing population on the planet will directly increase the amount of garbage produced, and how land is a precious commodity. As time increases, the amount of land available will decrease, and 2/3 of the Earth is covered by water.</p> Wed, 15 Aug 2018 15:13:18 +0000 Sierra Delarosa, MSc, MMus 7307 at /oss /oss/article/environment-health-technology/plastics <p>"I hate plastics. We should get rid of them.” So began an email I received. The correspondent went on to talk about how plastics are a plague on the environment, how they contain chemicals that contaminate our food supply, disrupt our hormones, cause autism and ADHD and use up valuable petroleum deposits. What prompted the email was some comments I made about different plastics having different properties and how there were some concerns with some but not with others.</p> Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:36:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2346 at /oss