Bubble wrap as test tubes. Photo: American Chemical Society Researchers from Harvard have devised a new use for "the gas-filled compartments in the packing material commonly called 'bubble wrap.'" ...

The first step in creating an easy DIY bubble blower with recycled bottles is to cut a small plastic bottle in half. You can use any plastic bottle, such as a soda or water bottle.

One glass test tube can cost between $1 and $5. Bubble wrap, by contrast, is dirt cheap. One square foot of it, with about 100 to 500 bubbles depending on bubble dimensions, costs only 6 cents ...