AstroTurf: A Surface of Contention
This digital exhibition explores the history of artificial grass playing surfaces and the controversies they sprout.
We’ve all seen artificial grass. You might encounter it at a youth soccer game or see it on television watching your favorite sports team. Your dog might even use a patch at the airport. This common object has a surprising history and a controversial future.
For more on the history of everyday materials, visit the Science of Stuff.
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DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE
Turf Wars
In the 1960s chemists created artificial turf. But are synthetic fields better than natural grass?
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Plastics & Synthetic Fibers
This collection includes a wide variety of materials documenting the history of the development of plastics and synthetic fibers.
EDUCATION
Conflicts in Chemistry: The Case of Plastics
Students consider the positive, negative, and conflicting perspectives of plastics through a debate of the issues.