Researchers discover 'glue' that makes plant cell walls strong — foreseeing brighter future for wooden skyscrapers

2016-12-22T14:12:00-05:00

Molecules 10,000 times narrower than the width of a human hair could hold the key to making possible wooden skyscrapers and more energy-efficient paper production, according to research published today in the journal Nature Communications. The study, led by a father and son team at the Universities of Warwick and Cambridge, solves a long-standing mystery of how key sugars in cells bind to form strong, indigestible materials.

"But just as this could improve how easily materials can be broken down, the discovery may also help them create stronger materials, he says. There are already plans to build houses in the UK more sustainably using wood, and Paul Dupree is involved in the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge, which is looking at whether buildings as tall as skyscrapers could be built using modified wood."

Greg Lynn: The future of glue in architecture is bright

2016-03-14T13:41:00-04:00

Glue is the future of architecture. At least that’s how architect Greg Lynn sees it. And he’s not alone. “Mechanical assembly is already waning in many industries,” Lynn says. “An airplane now is glued together. A car now is glued together. Even a lot of appliances are being glued together.” So why not skyscrapers?

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Researchers discover 'glue' that makes plant cell walls strong — foreseeing brighter future for wooden skyscrapers

Greg Lynn: The future of glue in architecture is bright