I Can't Believe It's Not Wood

We have some good reasons for wanting to make fake wood, but wood is complex and intricate. Can we create a good wood substitute?

Hosted by: Stefan Chin

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[JamesBiggar]

As a journeyman builder/contractor who's worked with all sorts of natural and composite materials over the past couple of decades (and stays up to date with new products tested by the NRCC), I'm not sure that introducing more plastics to our landfills and failing recycling programs that just dump materials in developing countries, is the best way to deal with deforestation. I see what my industry uses, wastes, and dumps on a daily basis. It's incredible. A better, honest effort in sustainable development and enforcing responsible forest management/farming will get us farther ahead than exacerbating one problem in a vain attempt to solve another.

[CaptNSquared]

Sci Show: "You can probably spot fake wood from a mile away"
Me: "We make fake wood?"

[sebastianelytron]

I can cut wood in half just by looking at it



I saw it with my own eyes

[QuinchGaming]

People: We need to reduce plastic usage and waste, lets use more wood.

Also people: Let's stop cutting down trees, even though we can plant more, and use more plastics instead.

...*sigh*

[mktemple]

I like the whole "bamboo as wood alternative' rather than something else that has to be manufactured.

[TheNewsDepot]

We should stick with real wood for the carbon capturing alone.
We can, and should, plant more trees.

[zachheilman]

That mechanism with the solvents sounds a lot like how aerogels are made.

[Master_Therion]

Dr Ian Malcolm: Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they... wood.

[EverythingScience]

How do trees get online to watch this video?






They just log in.

[bosniakedisniksic]

But like, why? Make more plastics vs just grow a renewable resource that sequesters carbon

[screaminlordbyron]

I'm getting really fast at bailing when the ad starts at the end!

[CaptainMarvelsSon]

*Question:* Why is it so difficult to keep your eyes open when you are sleepy?

[kobeanderson]

Unless it’s using recycled plastic that’s unusable for anything else, this is indefinitely worse for the environment than just using wood

[Confused]

That explains why I can always tell if someone's floor is laminate or hardwood or if the trim is real wood or a engender product as soon as I touch it even if I'm walking on the floor in boots. I don't know it's just different I get that other people like it but it wouldn't be my first choice.

[sowhatgetalife]

Just plant trees dingus

Edit: I honestly don't know if this was satirical or not.

[kirkc]

0:15 "wood literally grows on trees". Literally shows a plant that is not a tree

[Abdega]

*[Insert “I make wood every morning” joke here]*

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

First I can't believe it's not butter

Now it's I can't believe it's not wood?

[spooner]

The paradoxical sentence "made inside a laboratory with a homemade contraption" makes this sound doable!

[thepausebrake]

You guys should help the #TeamTrees dudes. A lot of content creators are helping to plant 2 million trees by 2020. And because you are on the forefront of the scientific community in youtube, I think you should help them. And tell what they are trying to do to your viewers. Cheers. #TeamTrees