Transparent wood is coming, and it could make an energy-efficient alternative to glass

By Steve Eichhorn, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Bristol

Wood is an ancient material humans have been using for millions of years, for the construction of housing, ships and as a source of fuel for burning. It’s also a renewable source, and one way to capture excess carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. Today, the main component of wood - cellulose – is produced annually at 20 times the volume of steel.

One thing you wouldn’t use wood for is making windows. Instead we rely on glass and plastic, which are transparent and, when toughened, can give structural…

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