NonToxic

When vineyards are exposed to wildfire smoke, the grapes may absorb compounds which end up detracting from the flavor of the wine. A new spray-on grape coating could help, however, keeping wines from being described as possessing "a hint of burning forest."The nontoxic, edible solution was developed by scientists at Oregon State University, who were prompted to do so after the 2020 Pacific Northwest wildfires caused many vineyard owners in the region to discard their crops.Among other things, the liquid contains cellulose…

While we may think of wood as being earthy and natural, wooden materials such as plywood and particleboard typically contain formaldehyde-based adhesives that give off toxic fumes. Such is not the case with a new adhesive, however, which is made from glucose and citric acid.The substance is being developed by a team of scientists from China's Southwest Forestry University.They're building upon previous research, which showed that a water-resistant wood glue could be made from sucrose – which consists of glucose and…

Plywood and other composite wood products are used extensively in home construction, furniture, and decor. They are often made using glues and resins that contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde.The go-to materials for building home furniture, décor, and floors are composite wood products that come in large sheets. But the glues and resins holding together particleboard, fiberboard, and plywood usually contain formaldehyde and could release this probable carcinogen into the air. To develop a…