Imagine a world where your products are not made of microplastics, but some alternative compound derived from squid teeth. Crazy, right? Well, the idea may not be so far fetched. 

Melik Demirel, director of Penn State’s Center for Research on Advanced Fiber Technologies, has discovered a way to use the proteins from squid ring teeth (the serrated rings along squid tentacles) as a way to create an alternative to microplastics. 

The proteins can be grown in a lab via E. coli; therefore, there is no need to harvest already dwindling species of squid to make the products at a larger scale. 

The proteins are tough and have regenerative properties that can make clothing more durable and sustainable. 

A life without microplastics may be closer than we think. Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: https://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Sarah McAnulty joins me on the podcast to continue with Cephalopod Week and discuss her research interest of Squid and Bacteria. Sarah is not only interested in the marine science and conservation of squid and the rest of Cephalopods. She is also interested in science communication. 

I had the opportunity to ask Sarah about Cephalopods, Squids and Science Communication. 

We also spend some time talking about Sarah's project called Skype A Scientist.

Sarah McAnulty's Twitter

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