There’s a magical thing inside cans and bottles of Guinness. A small, round, ping-pong ball- like object. An object whose sole responsibility is making sure that the beer maintains its bubbles, like any good stout. This object is known as a widget (not to be confused with modular box like images that appear on webpages).
A recent breakthrough from scientists at the University of Limerick has lead to the redesign of the beloved widget. Gone are the days that plastic widgets will occupy space in landfills and live on for years. Now scientists think that a one square inch biodegradable cellulose fiber canister could do a better job of keeping the stout perfectly bubbly, while also reducing plastic manufacturing and waste. Nice one Guinness.
Happy St.Patty’s Day!
Ps- Guiness not your thing? That’s ok, it’s not mine either. Read about more ways about going green today – metaphorically, of course.
(Spotted on Hyper Vocal)
Katherine Hui is currently the Social site editor at Green Thing, a web-based public service in London that inspires people to lead greener lives through creative content.
Before this, she worked as the Development Manager at Social Innovation Camp, an organization that encourages people to use web and mobile-based technology to mobilise social change. She oversaw 300 ideas submission and helped build 20 prototypes – five of which have gone on to get further funding or investment.
Katherine’s came over to the UK form Canada in 2007 for an MSc program at the London School of Economics. Before arriving in London, she managed a small environmental start-up in Vancouver called the Canadian Climate Change Alliance.
Katherine is football mad. She is a loyal supporter of Arsenal FC, plays for Islington Borough Ladies FC and coaches for Gunners in Islington in her spare time. Her second favourite hobby is kite surfing and she can sometimes be found chasing the wind.
