Biodegradable Gum

According to a report in Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine, an average of 560,000 tons of gum is chewed each year. Pretty soon, we’re going to run out of desks and chairs to hide gum under.

Professor Terence Cosgrove, a British scientist at the University of Bristol, invented Rev 7, a water-soluble substance. The new gum is said to be 30% easier to remove from surfaces, than regular gum. Rev 7 can be dissolved by mixing water and a mild agitation over a period of 6 months, which seems long, but it’s nothing compared to the 50 years it takes for regular gum to dissolve. Through the use of polymers, it allows water to form a layer around the substance making it easier to remove.

If Rev 7 works out, it has the potential to change the world, or at least keep kids from getting gunk in their shoes and tracking it into the house.

via: Huffington Post  Photo Credit: alamy