Today's Briefing: 

Although students’ dorm rooms have only recently been stocked with environmentally-friendly canned water, a Princeton lab, led by chemistry Professor Paul Chirik has been investigating the construction of recyclable plastics since 2017. In late January, Chirik revealed the structure of the novel molecule “oligocyclobutane” and its potential to serve as a step toward sustainable and recyclable plastics.

Chirik and Megan Mohajder Beromi, a postdoctoral research fellow and one of the primary authors of the paper, trace the lab group’s journey over the years — from initial observations to elaborate experimental procedures. And, their work doesn’t pause here. Chirik and his lab strive to build on this initial research, engage with engineers and scientists in other fields, and push the boundaries of recyclable plastics. 

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