Summary: Rubber Made From DANDELIONS! Episode 65 by Meredith Hanel (Click here to directly access the MP3) (Access the full text transcript) In suburban North America, dandelions are nothing but an annoying weed to be extracted from lawns. The dandelion may soon rise from its lowly status, because of something valuable in its roots – rubber. We use natural rubber from the rubber tree for many things from tires to birthday balloons. Dandelion rubber car tires and dandelion latex products may be in the near future, but scientists need to find a way to extract it more efficiently and coax the dandelions to produce as much rubber as possible. Find out why rubber tree plantations may not keep up with world rubber demands and why the Russian dandelion could be an environmentally friendly addition to the rubber industry. Listen to the Podcast to learn more! For More Information: On the Rebound: Scientists revive search for new rubber sources. Science News, August 2013. Fraunhofer and Continental come together when the dandelion rubber meets the road. Fraunhofer Press Release, October 2013. Dutch Biotech Firm to Make Car Tires From Hybrid Dandelions. Inhabitat weblog, February 2013. Abbotsford company’s Russian dandelion could provide eco-friendly rubber. The Vancouver Sun, May 2014. Continental Wins GreenTec Award 2014 for Dandelion rubber. Continental Press Release, May 2014. Meredith Hanel earned her Ph.D. in Medical Genetics at University of Alberta and spent many years doing research in molecular and developmental biology related to medicine. Meredith presents hands-on biology workshops in elementary schools, and writes teacher resource materials, with the science outreach charity Scientists in School. She enjoys writing about science and loves to dig into the biology behind anything in nature. You can read her blog at http://biologybizarre.blogspot.ca
