A biologist at LSU has developed Mardi Gras beads that are biodegradable. Will we see these beads flying from floats this Mardi Gras season?

Is there truly anything more magical to us Louisianians, than catching soaring beads at our favorite parades? These beads are, in fact, completely useless when it is all said and done. That, however, doesn’t tamper down the magic, and every year we set out to catch as many beads as we can.

If you’re like me, you go home from the parade clueless as to where to put your haul of beads. Some may throw them in the attic and/or storage closet. Some may use them for decorations around Mardi Gras season. There is, though, no true purpose for these things and we all eventually throw them out.

Once out and away, these beads are a real menace, clogging drains and taking yup space and ultimately never going anywhere. What if they looked the same, felt the same, weighed the same, and were biodegradable? I think that’s something we all can get behind.

LSU biologist Naohiro Kato has developed exactly that, and it’s my personal hope that these new, eco-friendly beads become the new normal for us bead-lovers.