EdvoTech Tips: Sterilization without an Autoclave 

We don't have a good lab hack for an incubator but when we do we will be sure to post it! In the meantime, we do offer a portable incubator that is at a lower price point. www.edvotek.com/546

Yes, it is true that they both perform the same function - increasing the temperature and pressure. But most autoclaves are thousands of dollars, more than most teachers have! So a group of researchers studied whether inexpensive pressure cookers could reach the temperature and pressure necessary to efficiently sterilize media and instruments (journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0208769). They found that yes, most pressure cookers could substitute for autoclaves! This has implications for teaching labs, but also for field research and regions of the world where autoclaves may be too expensive. We think this is a great trick to share with the education community, where every dollar counts!

While I'm certain you are being sarcastic, increasing access to biotechnology resources is an important area of study. K-12 classes, underfunded labs, and labs in developing nations need affordable, accessible technology to do their research.

This would have been an awesome 6th grade science fair project idea. No sarcasm intended here.

@@DeezNuts-do3hb I don't disagree! But having it published in a peer-reviewed journal gives it credibility and visibility in the scientific community. We first learned about this from a group looking to increase inclusion in research science.