Episode
The Accidental Revolution in Conductive Plastics | Boston News
- Published
- Sep 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 105
- Processing state
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- https://sources.thednn.ai/c1da826c01a0b958
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Summary
A Nobel-winning Japanese chemist, Hideki Shirakawa, died at 90, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped materials science. His accidental discovery of conductive plastics in 1967—born from a botched experiment—led to a breakthrough when paired with American colleague Alan MacDiarmid’s doping technique. Their work proved plastics could conduct electricity, paving the way for solar panels, LEDs, and modern electronics. Awarded the Nobel Prize in 2000 alongside Alan Heeger, Shirakawa also championed scientific innovation in Japan, pushing the nation toward greater global recognition in research. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/c1da826c01a0b958