Scientists competing for venture capital?s attention

Plastic has been around more than 75 years, but many grades and consistencies of the wonder material remain undeveloped, University of Maryland professor Larry Sita told a gathering of venture capitalists at his school?s first Bioscience Research and Technology Review on Tuesday.

“So far, developing new formulations has been a matter of trial and error,” he said. “Tens of thousands of catalysts have been screened for each new grade of polypropylene achieved.”