A polymer is a long chain of molecules. Polymers are all around us, and they make up materials like bicycle helmets, CDs, tires, plastic water bottles, rubber bands, and glue.

Polymers are either naturally occurring (rubber, RNA and DNA, proteins, starch, and cellulose) or synthetic (manufactured.) Synthetic polymers are often commonly known as "plastics"

At Greensgrow, we focusing on a special kind of polymers - hydrogels.

Hydrogels are polymers with chains made up of repeating units that grab onto water molecules. Some hydrogels can soak up as much as 500 times their weight in water! This superabsorbent characteristic makes hydrogel polymers useful in water conservation and in solving other environmental issues.

Hydrogels are a synthetic product and can be helpful (but also may have some detrimental effects - think of diapers in a land fill. )

Many environmental applications for hydrogels have been found for agriculture, as well as the construction and horticulture industries. Hydrogels help reduce water runoff and soil erosion, thus improving the quality of lakes, streams, and rivers.

Hydrogels also help with moisture retention and water conservation by helping soil increase water holding capacity, allowing plants to survive during droughts. Erosion control, soil management, and environmental clean-ups are also ways hydrogels can help the environment.

Many scientists continue to study the effect of hydrogels on the environment.

See this article for some home/classroom experiments involving hydrogel polymers.