4steps from the big bang
115things can go into it
plastic
MaterialSubstance
The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, arrived in 1907. Most plastics are long chains of carbon from oil and gas.
First appeared1907 (119 yrs ago)
Made Of
Everything is made of something.← What it takes
What it leads to →
The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, arrived in 1907. Most plastics are long chains of carbon from oil and gas.
From the big bang to plastic
The most direct chain from the start of the universe, following what things are made from and, for living things, what they evolved from. Each step shows when it first appeared.
big bang13.8 bn yrs ago
Hhydrogen13.8 bn yrs ago
water4.4 bn yrs ago
paintc. 100,000 yrs ago
plastic1907