ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel ASAP Science These Edible Water Bottles Are Unbelievable | DIY Edible Plastic
Imagine a world where you can drink water from a bottle and then eat the bottle itself! This might sound like science fiction, but it’s actually possible with edible plastic. In this article, we’ll explore how to make these edible water bottles at home and discuss how they could help reduce plastic waste. We’ll also experiment with creating edible ketchup packages and coffee pods.
Single-use plastics are a big problem for our planet. Many of these plastics end up in landfills or oceans, causing pollution and harming wildlife. Even though some plastics are recyclable, not all of them actually get recycled. Scientists and inventors are working hard to find alternatives that are biodegradable or even edible. Today, we’ll try making our own edible plastic at home!
To make edible water bottles, you’ll need a few simple ingredients:
1. Start by mixing one gram of sodium alginate into one cup of water. Use a hand blender to mix it until it’s fully dissolved. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to remove any bubbles.
2. In another bowl, mix five grams of calcium lactate with four cups of water. This will be your calcium bath.
3. Once the sodium alginate solution is ready, use a rounded spoon to scoop it up and gently drop it into the calcium lactate solution. Let it sit for about three minutes.
4. The sodium alginate reacts with the calcium lactate to form calcium alginate, creating a soft, gel-like shell around the water. This is your edible water bottle!
The science behind this is pretty cool. Sodium alginate is made of long chains of carbohydrates. When these chains meet the calcium ions in the calcium lactate solution, they form a gel-like substance called calcium alginate. This process is called cross-linking, and it creates a flexible, edible shell around the water.
Now that you’ve made an edible water bottle, why not try making edible ketchup packages? You can use the same method to encapsulate ketchup and enjoy it with fries. You could even try making coffee pods that burst with flavor when you bite into them!
While our homemade creations are fun, there are real companies working on similar ideas for everyday products. Some are making compostable food packaging and even edible utensils from potatoes. These innovations could help reduce our reliance on traditional plastics, which take a long time to break down and are made from fossil fuels.
Trying out these experiments at home is a great way to learn about science and sustainability. If you’re interested in more hands-on activities, consider exploring projects from KiwiCo, which offers educational kits that teach concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Thanks for joining us on this journey to discover edible plastics. Keep experimenting and thinking about how you can make a difference in the world!
Gather the ingredients listed in the article and follow the step-by-step instructions to make your own edible water bottles. Pay close attention to the science behind the process, and think about how this could help reduce plastic waste.
Using the same method described for water bottles, try creating edible packaging for other liquids or semi-liquids like ketchup or juice. Document your process and results, and share your findings with the class.
Conduct research on companies and innovations in the field of edible plastics. Prepare a short presentation to share with your classmates, highlighting how these innovations could impact the environment.
Participate in a class debate about the advantages and disadvantages of using edible plastics. Consider environmental, economic, and practical perspectives, and develop arguments for both sides of the debate.
Use your creativity to design a new product that incorporates edible plastic technology. Create a prototype or a detailed drawing, and explain how your invention could be used in everyday life to reduce plastic waste.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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This is a completely edible plastic with drinking water inside that we just made at home and could be a huge step towards a future with less plastic waste. In today’s video, which is sponsored by KiwiCo, we’re not only going to go through how we made them, but also attempt making edible ketchup packages, coffee cup pods, and more.
We all know that single-use plastics are a problem, given how much ends up in landfills and the oceans. Even most of our recyclable plastic doesn’t actually end up being recycled. While there’s a lot of research going into viable alternatives that are either biodegradable or edible, we thought, why not try this ourselves? So that’s what we’re going to do today, and you can easily join along with us.
All you’ll really need is water, which we have in three different bowls here. Then we have something called sodium alginate, which is actually a by-product of seaweed. I’ve experimented a little bit with this the other night, and it’s going to be interesting. The other ingredient is calcium lactate, and both of these substances are edible.
We want one gram of sodium alginate mixed into one cup of the drinking water. All right, I’m going to give you the honors of dumping it in. We are actually going to use a hand blender. You just have to keep going until it’s fully dissolved.
After blending, we need to let it sit for around 10 to 15 minutes for all those bubbles to go away. While we’re waiting, we’re going to prepare our second solution. We have four cups of water in a larger bowl and we’re going to use five grams of calcium lactate in here.
The sodium alginate solution has no more bubbles now, so we’re going to scoop it up using a little rounded spoon to keep an orb shape and drop it into our calcium lactate solution. You want to let it sit in there for about three minutes to ensure the reaction is happening.
The sodium alginate is made of long strands of carbohydrate units. When they come in contact with the calcium bath, a reaction occurs, forming calcium alginate. This cross-linking creates a flexible, soft solid or gelatinous substance. The longer it soaks, the firmer the gel becomes.
This is encapsulated water. You can squirt the water out into your mouth or eat the whole thing, depending on your taste preference. It should have a fairly neutral, if not slightly sweet taste.
Next, we’re going to experiment with making ketchup. We got a little bit of fries to try it with. If we do this right, we could start a business and change the world.
Now let’s prepare our latte. While our creations may not work for all products, there are real solutions being developed for various industries. Companies are already making compostable food packaging and even edible utensils made from potatoes.
One of the main drawbacks of biodegradable plastics is that while they break down faster than traditional plastic, they can still take a long time. However, bio-plastics are not made from fossil fuels, which is a significant advantage.
There is a big push towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging, and I feel hopeful about the future. If you want to purchase your coffee bubbles, just call one, one, one, one, one, one coffee bubble!
This morning has been one of the most interesting days I’ve had. The coffee bubble is literally a burst of coffee in your mouth, and it would be great with sugar as a snack.
This simple chemical reaction shows how we could decrease single-use plastics. If we can do this at home, just imagine the potential for the future. You should definitely try this with your kids or friends.
If you’re looking for more at-home activities, our sponsor today is a perfect opportunity. KiwiCo is designed to expose kids to concepts in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. You can use kiwico.com/asap for your first month free. Each box comes with all the supplies needed for that month’s project, so no need to run to the store.
Thanks again to KiwiCo for sponsoring today’s video. We love a sponsor that inspires kids to become creative problem solvers and critical thinkers. Make sure you’re subscribed, and we’ll see you next time for a new science video.
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This version removes any informal language, personal anecdotes, and potentially sensitive content while retaining the core message and information.
Edible – Safe to eat or fit for consumption. – Scientists are developing edible packaging to reduce waste and protect the environment.
Plastic – A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers that can be molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. – Reducing the use of plastic is crucial to prevent ocean pollution and protect marine life.
Water – A transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluids of most living organisms. – Conserving water is essential to ensure that future generations have access to this vital resource.
Sodium – A chemical element with the symbol Na, it is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is an essential element for all animal life. – Sodium is crucial for maintaining fluid balance in the human body and is commonly found in table salt.
Alginate – A naturally occurring biopolymer derived from brown seaweed, used in various applications including food and medical products. – Alginate is used in the food industry to create gels and thickeners for various products.
Calcium – A chemical element with the symbol Ca, it is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, essential for living organisms, particularly in cell physiology. – Calcium is important for building strong bones and teeth in humans and animals.
Lactate – A compound produced when glucose is broken down and oxidized, often associated with muscle fatigue during intense exercise. – During vigorous exercise, muscles produce lactate, which can lead to a burning sensation.
Biodegradable – Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, thereby avoiding pollution. – Using biodegradable materials helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Pollution – The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects. – Air pollution from factories and vehicles can have serious health effects on humans and animals.
Wildlife – Animals that live and grow in natural conditions, not domesticated or cultivated. – Protecting wildlife is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
