“The results are amazing, that a piece of wood can be as strong as glass,” says Hu, who highlighted the features of transparent wood in the 2023 Annual Review of Materials Research.

Made by modifying wood's natural structure, this material has been proposed as a sturdy, eco-friendly plastic alternative. But wood's biodegradability is often sacrificed in the process. Researchers ...

Transparent wood isn't limited to windows and structural uses; it could also replace plastic in electronics. By embedding tiny silver wires, Baruah’s team gave the wood the ability to conduct ...

Transparent wood could soon find uses in super-strong screens for smartphones; in soft, glowing light fixtures; and even as structural features, such as color-changing windows.

Transparent wood could soon be used in "super-strong screens for smartphones", said Knowable Magazine, as well as "in soft, glowing light fixtures" and even "color-changing windows".

But transparent wood offers an alternative to these plastics. It’s renewable, biodegradable, and tough enough to still be useful.Until now, though, there’s been a trade-off.

Transparent wood promises to be an environmentally friendly substitute for glass or plastic used for making car windshields, see-through packaging and biomedical devices, according to a study.

Transparent wood could soon make its way into touch screens, skyscraper windows, and car dashboards. Skip to content Site Navigation. Popular Latest Newsletters. Sections.

Transparent wood, made by stripping organic polymers and replacing them with a mixture of egg whites and rice extract, could be used as windows and smartphone screens By Matthew Sparkes 26 March 2025 ...

“Transparent wood as a material can replace the environmentally harmful petroleum-based plastics, such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic and polyethylene,” said Prodyut Dhar ...

Transparent wood could soon find uses in super-strong screens for smartphones; in soft, glowing light fixtures; and even as structural features, such as color-changing windows.