Awesome Leaves

We’ve seen guitars made from unusual materials, but this is the first one we’ve seen that was made from leaves. Gitara Maker was inspired to create the guitar after seeing fallen leaves on a camping trip. He built the guitar’s body by stacking flattened layers of leaves with clear resin, shaping it with a scroll saw, and applying top coats for a shiny finish.

Did you know that putting ink from a ballpoint pen on the tail of a leaf turns it into a tiny, self-propelled boat? Science educator Steve Mould digs into this phenomenon and explores the chemistry and physics at work to make these leaf boats move and leave a trail of ink on the surface.

Disposable plates are typically made from paper or plastic. The paper ones are easy to recycle, but plastic is more challenging. As a green alternative, India’s Vistaraku makes biodegradable plates and bowls by stitching together and pressing leaves of the Palash tree. Apparently, the leaves have natural antibacterial properties.