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.

In a world where plastic dominates almost every part of daily life—from phones to windows—finding a sustainable alternative is crucial. Researchers have now turned to an unexpected source: wood. By ...

SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2025 — Can you imagine a smartphone with a wooden touchscreen? Or a house with wooden windows? Probably not — unless you’ve heard of transparent wood. Made by modifying wood’s ...

Thirty years ago, a botanist in Germany had a simple wish: to see the inner workings of woody plants without dissecting them. By bleaching away the pigments in plant cells, Siegfried Fink managed to ...

Researchers at the University of Maryland have turned ordinary sheets of wood into transparent material that is nearly as clear as glass, but stronger and with better insulating properties. It could ...

Thirty years ago, a botanist in Germany had a simple wish: to see the inner workings of woody plants without dissecting them. By bleaching away the pigments in plant cells, Siegfried Fink managed to ...

A few months ago, we looked at the work of material scientists who had managed to make a block of linden wood see-through. Altering the molecular makeup to turn timber transparent is an impressive bit ...

Researchers in South Korea have developed a wood-based smart window that adjusts light, blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation, and improves insulation without using electricity. The material responds ...

Transparent wood just got even better, moving us a step closer to windows that are far better insulators than traditional glass ones. The standard process for making wood transparent typically ...