A clearer future: Researchers unveil transparent, plastic-free wood

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a highly transparent material made entirely from natural wood without adding plastic and uncovered why some wood becomes clearer than others. Their study reveals that transparency depends not only on chemical treatment but also on the direction of the wood's internal microscopic structure. The findings, published in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, open new possibilities for sustainable, plastic-free transparent materials for energy-efficient buildings and next-generation devices.