{
  "id": 17113221,
  "title": "Plant biology provides inspiration for PFAS replacement",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/plant-biology-provides-inspiration-for-pfas-replacement",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-29T20:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2596564-plant-biology-provides-inspiration-for-pfas-replacement/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists are developing a plant-inspired coating that may replace harmful PFAS chemicals in various consumer products. PFAS, or forever chemicals, have both beneficial properties and environmental concerns due to their long-term persistence. Joshua Yuan, a chemical engineer at Washington University in St Louis, discovered that plants use a structure called suberin to transport water across long distances. This waterproof coating is composed of greasy long-chain fatty acids and plant polymer lignin. Yuan's team created a similar coating using waste from the paper industry and animal fat, which was spray-coated onto surfaces like glass, metal, and cotton. The resulting waterproof layer self-assembled into continuous layers, offering resistance to contamination and wear, similar to the lotus effect seen in some plants. Unlike traditional PFAS coatings, this new coating operates through a different mechanism, creating numerous tiny pockets of air that minimize direct contact with water droplets. The coating is bio-based, easily degrades in composting conditions, and leaves no harmful residues. Potential applications include food packaging, but its lower heat tolerance limits use in bakeware.",
  "summary": "Forever chemicals are renowned for their durability and their non-stick properties, but they persist for years in the environment. An alternative inspired by plants doesn't have the same problem",
  "key_points": [
    "Scientists create plant-inspired coating to replace PFAS chemicals.",
    "Coating uses suberin structure from plants to transport water.",
    "New coating degrades in composting conditions, leaves no harmful residues."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}