Main content

Mark Miodownik explores why glues that don’t unstick are a problem, and how reversible adhesives will be key to a sustainable future.

In this series, materials scientist Mark Miodownik charts the journey of human progress through the sticky substances that have shaped us.

In episode five he explores how the sticking power of modern glues – in everything from phones to furniture and planes to wind turbines – pose a problem, because they can’t be UNstuck.

He hears how modern electronic devices contain more glue than ever before, making them harder to repair and more likely to end up in landfill. But new designs could make our tech more sustainable.

And he learns about research into reversible glues that can be turned off at the flick of a switch, and how they could change the way we make, fix and recycle our stuff.

Contributors:
Barny Greenland, University of Sussex
Liz Chamberlain, iFixit

Sound effects: scratching_rotten_wall by erpe, from Freesound

Producer: Anand Jagatia
Presenter: Mark Miodownik
Executive Producer: Sasha Feachem
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Studios Audio Production

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Sat 19 Oct 2024 05:45

Broadcasts

  • Fri 19 Apr 2024 13:45
  • Thu 17 Oct 2024 09:45
  • Sat 19 Oct 2024 05:45