You are built from polymers, just like your toys and your telephone.
In short: Polymers are long chains of repeating molecules that define everything from your own DNA to everyday synthetic materials. Jan Mattingly explores how these versatile structures provide the toughness and stretchiness essential to our world.
A polymer is defined as a long chain formed by repeating units known as monomers. These structures are fundamental to life, appearing naturally in biological systems like DNA, as well as in organic materials such as trees.
Beyond nature, synthetic polymers have become indispensable to modern life. Materials like plastic, styrofoam, and Silly Putty demonstrate the range of properties—such as durability and elasticity—that these molecular chains can offer. Understanding these diverse substances reveals why they are essential to the objects we use daily.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: From DNA to Silly Putty: The diverse world of polymers - Jan Mattingly
- Also: From DNA to Silly Putty, the diverse world of polymers - Jan | TED-Ed
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