Researchers at Kennesaw State University made semi-transparent balsa wood by removing much of its lignin and hemicellulose, then filling its porous cellulose structure with a biopolymer derived from egg white and rice extract. A 2026 peer-reviewed study reports promising ultraviolet and thermal-insulation properties, but the material is not yet strong enough to replace glass.
What “transparent wood” means in this study
The work was led by Bharat Baruah, a chemistry professor at Kennesaw State University, with undergraduate researcher Ridham Raval. The project was presented at ACS Spring 2025 and later published in ACS Sustainable Resource Management: online November 29, 2025, and in the January 22, 2026 issue, volume 3, issue 1, pages 105–114. The peer-reviewed paper is the primary technical account; the ACS summary of the 2025 presentation describes the project at an earlier stage.
“Transparent” does not mean optically identical to a clear glass pane. The paper reports higher optical haze than glass, so the material scatters more light. The initial ACS description called it semi-transparent; the later paper uses “transparent wood.” Neither wording establishes that it delivers the same view, clarity, durability, or building performance as window glass.
How the researchers made it
Wood is built from cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In this process, the researchers chemically removed lignin and hemicellulose from balsa, leaving a porous cellulose framework. They then impregnated that framework with a biopolymer made from egg white and rice extract.
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The ACS account says preparation involved a vacuum chamber and chemicals including sodium sulfite, sodium hydroxide, diluted bleach, and the curing agent diethylenetriamine. This is a laboratory materials process, not a kitchen-ingredient treatment or a straightforward DIY way to turn a balsa sheet into a window.
What the study measured—and what the results mean
| Measure | Reported result | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity | Transparent wood: 0.35 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹; glass: 1.05 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, in the study’s comparison. | This is a material-level measurement. It does not establish the insulation performance of a complete window, frame, or building assembly. |
| Model birdhouse temperature | The paper reports indoor air about 5 °C cooler with transparent wood than with glass. The earlier ACS summary gives a difference of 5–6 °C (9–11 °F). | This was a small model-birdhouse experiment, not a whole-building energy study. |
| Sample temperature over a hot plate | With the hot plate at a maximum of 150 °C, the paper reports sample temperatures of 57 °C for transparent wood and 46 °C for glass. | These are sample temperatures under that specific setup, not room temperatures or field results. |
The study also reports enhanced UV protection relative to glass. That is a promising material property, but the reported findings do not amount to independent field testing of a window product or prove energy savings in a real building.
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Why it is not ready to replace windows
The authors say the current material does not have enough mechanical strength to replace glass. They identify achieving favorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties at the same time as an outstanding challenge. Higher haze also matters in construction: a material that transmits light but diffuses it is not automatically a substitute for glazing where a clear view is needed.
The paper discusses applying a 0.5 mm layer to the inside of existing windows to change their optical and thermal properties. That is a proposed use, not a validated retrofit product. The available sources do not establish how such a layer would perform over time in a real window assembly, meet construction requirements, or compare with tested glazing systems.
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Biodegradability and the conductive version
The paper reports biodegradability for the material and discusses potential uses such as smart windows and wearable sensors. In demonstrated conductive samples, however, the researchers added silver nanowires. Those nanowires are not biodegradable, so conductivity should not be treated as an inherent property of every version of the material or as proof that the conductive composite is wholly biodegradable.
The researchers mention graphene as a possible future conductive alternative; that is a research direction, not a result demonstrated in this work. More broadly, the cited sources do not establish independent replication, a market-ready window product, or real-building performance.
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What this could mean for construction
For builders and property owners, the most useful takeaway is that transparent wood is an experimental material worth watching—not a glazing specification to substitute into a project. Its lower reported thermal conductivity and UV protection suggest potential, while haze, strength, whole-assembly performance, and the details of any conductive additives remain important constraints.
Researchers and the ACS have raised ideas such as wooden windows and device touchscreens, but these are possible future applications, not commercially available products. The BGR article that matches the original headline was published March 30, 2025; its framing should be read alongside the later paper, which makes the limits of the material clearer. See the BGR story and Kennesaw State faculty publications listing.
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