Archive for September, 2018
Designing the Death of a Plastic
Wednesday, September 26th, 2018Designing the Death of a Plastic
https://www.NYTimes.com/2018/08/06/science/plastics-polymers-pollution.html That is, designing self-destructing polymers
QT:{{”
“Dr. Feinberg’s polymers were imprisoned in circular loops instead of being open-ended chains. By themselves, the loops were stable. For the self-destructing plastic, Dr. Feinberg mixed the polymers with a little bit of yellow, light-sensitive dye. When light shines on the plastic, the energized dye molecules rip electrons out from the polymers. The loops break, exposing the polymer ends, and the polymers unzip.
Other scientists trap their polymers by capping the ends of the long chains or linking the chains together into networks. By designing these traps to fail upon meeting certain triggers like light or acid, scientists can control exactly how and when their polymers unzip.
…
In theory, these next-generation polymers could help mitigate pollution problems associated with plastic products. If the units were collected after unzipping to make new polymers, that would lead to chemical recycling. Most recycling done today simply involves melting the plastic and remolding it.
…
Economically speaking, replacing the most widely used polymers like polyethylene (grocery bags), polypropylene (fishing nets) or polyterephthalate (single-use bottles) with unzipping polymers is not feasible.
“
Data science in industry
Wednesday, September 26th, 2018After @pmarca’s classic 2011 essay “Why Software is Eating the World,” Cohen & @MatthewGranade now posit that “Models Will Run the World” https://www.WSJ.com/articles/models-will-run-the-world-1534716720 Illustrates the transition from computer science to #DataScience HT @WillMeyerson
QT:{{”
The software revolution has transformed business. What’s next? Processes that constantly improve themselves without need of human intervention.
By Steven A. Cohen and Matthew W. Granade
Aug. 19, 2018 6:12 p.m. ET
Marc Andreessen’s essay “Why Software is Eating the World” appeared in this newspaper Aug. 20, 2011. Mr. Andreessen’s analysis was prescient. The companies he identified—Netflix, Amazon, Spotify—did eat their industries. Newer software companies—Didi, Airbnb, Stripe—are also at the table, digging in.
“}}
A nice commentary on the role of data science in industry.