Not all data needs to be saved for posterity. But toss that CD or DVD into a landfill and its polycarbonate plastic will take up space forever; incinerate it and you release harmful dioxins. Sony, Sanyo, and Pioneer are working on biodegradable alternatives that last for a few decades on the shelf but decompose into water and carbon dioxide when exposed to soil bacteria. Don't get too excited; they're still working out the kinks. Sanyo delayed its corn-based disc because it tended to melt during playback.
- Elizabeth-Svoboda
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The All-in-One, Widescreen Security Cam
Short-Term Memory
