Research question 9-9-2025

When does water become a material, and what happens to that materiality when it is contaminated with PFAS?

What is PFAS?
PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals.

They are used to make things resistant to water, grease, or stains. For example in non-stick pans, rain jackets, and firefighting foam.

The problem: PFAS don’t break down in nature. That’s why they are called “forever chemicals.”

Over time, they build up in water, soil, animals, and even our own bodies.

What changes when our most basic, life-giving material becomes toxic? Can we still treat it as the same material, or has its meaning, use, and value been completely distorted?