Balancing The Future

Balancing the Future is taking a few weeks off. Join Micah and Chai later this month for more conversations about the science and technology solutions transforming our lives. In the meantime, you can listen to all previous episodes on your podcast app of choice. LINKS: METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges. We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs. Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields. Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO: Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that more than 20 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the environment each year. At the same time, the UN World Food Programme warns that 266 million people worldwide face acute hunger in 2026. Could a single solution help address both challenges? Two scientists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale believe it could. In this episode of Balancing the Future, Micah speaks with associate professor and microbiologist Dr. Lahiru Jayakody and graduate research assistant Sandhya Jayasekara at Southern Illinois University Carbondale about how they transformed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into cookies that look and smell like those on supermarket shelves. The project is built on a surprisingly simple idea: plastic and food both contain carbon, so could one be transformed into the other? Using a proprietary method called oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, the researchers process carbon-rich materials such as PET plastic, discarded corn stalks and leaves, and another biomass. The process uses water and oxygen at suitable temperatures and pressures to break down tough materials into components that microbes can access. These components are then fed to specially programmed yeasts, which convert them into food ingredients such as proteins, fats, and acids. The researchers add fiber, starch, and sweetener, then extrude the mixture through a 3D printer to create protein-rich cookies called µBites (microbites). The project was inspired not only by these two major societal challenges, but also by NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, which called for ideas for sustainable food systems for Moon and Mars missions. Lahiru envisions a future in which plastic packaging used by astronauts could be repurposed as a food source during long space missions. In August 2026, a global communications campaign introduced the derived plastic cookie to the world. Lahiru and Sandhya reflect on the divided public response to the idea and the lessons they have learned about explaining novel scientific concepts to a wider audience. The cookie remains a work in progress, with researchers now focused on confirming its safety to eat. If they clear that hurdle, these small cookies could have a significant global impact. LINKS: Dr. Lahiru Jayakody Bio Sandhya Jayasekara on LinkedIn NASA Deep Space Food Challenge Website METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn EPISODE SOURCES: This cookie started its life as a plastic bottle – The American Chemical Society Hard to swallow? The future of snacking may be 3D-printed cookies made from upcycled plastic – The Guardian Plastic pollution – The International Union for Conservation of Nature A global food crisis – The UN World Food Programme Microbes transform plastic waste into paracetamol – The University of Edinburgh ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges. We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs. Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields. Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO: Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.

The cold chain industry helps move food, vaccines, and other perishable goods around the world. But it also has a big carbon footprint, so finding cleaner, smarter ways to improve the system is really important. In this episode of Balancing the Future, Chai and Micah sit down with Tapasvi Bhatt, a PhD scholar from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and winner of the 2026 METTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award. Along with his peer researchers, he built a way to lower the cold chain’s carbon footprint: a box made from mushrooms. Tapasvi explains that cold chain boxes are often insulated with non-recyclable materials like petrochemical foams or polyurethane, which take a long time to break down. On top of that, it is usually cheaper to make a new box than to return and reuse the original, adding even more carbon emissions to the supply chain. That’s why Tapasvi and his team developed a box made from a mycelium composite, which is a mix of mycelium, oats, and other biodegradable materials. These boxes insulate well, can be reused several times, and break down easily in soil. If widely adopted, this technology could significantly reduce the cold chain industry’s carbon footprint. Micah and Chai also discuss other possible uses for mycelium composite, including building materials, furniture, and even coffins. LINKS: Tapasvi Bhatt on LinkedIn METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn EPISODE SOURCES: METTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award The Growing Pavillion, Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Hy Fi Pavillion, New York City, USA 7 Unexpected Uses Of Mycelium Composites You’ll Love Knowing – Bina Biox ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges. We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs. Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields. Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO: Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, one in four people around the world lack access to drinking water. Many people also spend over thirty minutes each day just collecting it. Meanwhile, the growth of data centers for AI is putting more pressure on water and land resources. Is it possible that a small device could help solve these big problems? In this episode of Balancing the Future, Chai sits down with Dr. Carlos Diaz-Marin, Assistant Professor of Energy Science and Engineering at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and winner of the 2026 METTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award. They discuss Carlos and his team’s invention, a small box that uses the same technology found in diapers and other absorbent materials. It pulls moisture from the air and stores it as drinking water. The device runs on solar power, so it works reliably and sustainably. While the basic technology has been around for a while, what sets this device apart is that it can operate even in very low humidity, which has been a challenge for similar products. Carlos and his team have tested the device in extreme environments, including the rainforest and the world's driest desert. They found that it worked well in all these places. This means the device could be used in homes to provide enough drinking water for a family each day. Its ability to use waste heat could also make it useful for cooling AI data centers. LINKS: Dr. Carlos Diaz-Marin Bio METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn EPISODE SOURCES: METTLER TOLEDO Innovator Award Solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting in the Atacama Desert through physics-based optimization of a hygroscopic hydrogel device – Device Journal 1 in 4 people globally still lack access to safe drinking water – WHO, UNICEF Rising Emissions, Depleting Water and Vanishing Land—UN Scientists: AI Is Threatening Natural Resources for Billions – United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health UN World Water Development Report 2026 – United Nations ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges. We explore a wide range of creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs. Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields. Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO: Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.

It’s widely recognized that many persistent chemicals pose risks to both environmental and human health. Addressing this significant global challenge requires innovative solutions. One of these is the groundbreaking concept of ‘Treatable by Design’. In this episode of Balancing the Future, Chai and Micah sit down with Dr. Gabriel Sigmund, Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research to discuss his approach for developing safer chemicals that are intentionally designed to degrade rapidly and exhibit low toxicity. His strategy targets substances such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are commonly used for their water- and oil-resistant properties but are, as a result, extremely hard to break down. Gabriel describes this as a cascade: if a chemical cannot be made safe by design, the first step is to look for a safer alternative. If no alternative exists, the chemical should be made treatable by design. Failing that, the search returns to finding an alternative that is treatable. This cycle repeats through several stages before arriving at the final case, one where the chemical simply cannot be dealt with. At that point, Gabriel argues, the real question becomes whether the chemical is necessary at all. More often than not, he suggests, the answer is no. A second line of defense for addressing toxic chemicals involves removing them from the environment through techniques such as water filtration and incineration. Although remediation efforts are underway, their pace remains insufficient. Gabriel emphasizes that even if affluent nations allocated all available resources, it would still be impossible to eliminate every hazardous chemical from the environment. Overall, Gabriel advocates for a pragmatic approach: reducing the production of harmful chemicals now will decrease the need for future remediation. LINKS: Dr. Gabriel Sigmund Bio METTLER TOLEDO Website METTLER TOLEDO on LinkedIn Balancing The Future Podcast Website Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn EPISODE SOURCES: A concept for the molecular design of readily treatable chemicals – Royal Society of Chemistry With over 100 new alternatives to PFAS, ChemSec Marketplace becomes key industry resource – ChemSec Persistence Assessment of Chemicals: Trajectories toward New Approach Methodologies (P-NAMs) – ACS Publications Support for EU-wide PFAS restriction with targeted derogations: what happens next? – CMS Law Europe’s PFAS restriction proposal is moving forward – White and Case ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE: Science and technology play a key role in solving many of the world’s toughest problems. Balancing the Future introduces listeners to the people and innovations addressing these challenges. We explore wide-ranging creative solutions that are changing our world for the better. You will hear directly from people making an impact in science and technology, such as, how cultivated foods could shake up both our diets and traditional agriculture, the ways AI might help us find a cure for Alzheimer's, and how tiny 3D ‘organoids’ are already changing the way we test new drugs. Each episode offers hopeful conversations with scientists, leaders and communicators who are making a difference in their fields. Join us as we decode the mechanisms behind impactful developments and new ways of thinking. Subscribe or follow us to be sure you never miss an episode. ABOUT METTLER TOLEDO Whether ensuring food safety, developing life-saving medicines, or advancing new technologies, precision, efficacy and accuracy matters. Meeting customers’ expectations takes more than effort; it requires the right partner. METTLER TOLEDO supports with trusted tools, expertise, and knowledge. Together, we help our clients work more efficiently, stay compliant, and drive innovation, building a safer and more sustainable future for everyone.