Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse …

Jan 24, 2026 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.

Oct 31, 2025 · Plastic products are generally versatile, durable and lightweight. Plastic products are prominent in the construction, transportation, and packaging industries. Plastic innovations …

Sep 8, 2025 · Plastics pose a wide range of hazards for people, ecosystems and the climate. Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels and generate planet-warming greenhouse gas …

Apr 21, 2023 · Plastic is a synthetic polymer made from various organic materials that can be molded into almost any shape. Some types of plastic are clear and transparent, like that used in disposable …

Nov 18, 2025 · Plastic coverage from Scientific American, featuring news and articles about advances in the field.

Jul 26, 2025 · As America grapples with an escalating plastic crisis, the city of Houston, ExxonMobil and other partners announced a new program that promised to recycle nearly all of the city's plastic waste.

Feb 10, 2026 · Plastic is pervasive in modern society, used in virtually every sector of the global economy and every aspect of human lives. This has led to a 20-fold increase in global production of …

Jan 29, 2025 · Whether we know it, or like it, our bodies are polluted by tiny fragments of plastic that fail to break down in our earthly environment. What does that mean for our long-term health, and what …

What is plastic? Plastics are polymers, that is, they’re large molecules made up of repeating smaller molecules known as monomers. Along with synthetic plastics, polymers exist in nature as well: the …