On July 19, 2025, under bright sunshine and a gentle breeze, the “Carbon Explorer Alliance – Green Future Innovators” summer study tour successfully concluded at the North Star Advanced Recycling Technology Research Institute! Meticulously organized by North Star Advanced Recycling Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd., the event attracted 26 outstanding young participants from 21 schools across China (including 21 children of employees and 5 public welfare slots).

In just one day, these “little carbon innovators” witnessed firsthand the magical transformation of waste resources into treasures, touched the power of cutting-edge technology with their own hands, and used boundless creativity to depict the green future they envisioned. Wonder, excitement, and curiosity shone on every young face — the seed named “green dream” had already sprouted in their hearts!

 

At the start of the event, children dressed in distinctive school uniforms signed in with high spirits. Name stickers opened the door to their green exploration journey.

The solemn flag-raising and national anthem ceremony set a lofty starting point for this technology and environmental protection tour.

After random grouping into three teams, the children quickly broke the ice and took energetic group photos.

Then, guided by professional docents, the children entered North Star Recycling’s technology exhibition hall. How are lithium batteries safely shredded while charged? How are resources efficiently recycled? Answers were revealed one by one through vivid models and clear process demonstrations.

 

Under strict safety measures and accompanied by professionals, the children visited the intelligent workshop on site. They watched the moment spent batteries entered the production line, feeling the of industrial operations.

What excited the children even more was queuing up to personally operate North Star Recycling’s self-developed intelligent inspection robot — making technology truly come alive at their fingertips!

 

The children then stepped into the physical and chemical laboratory, where researchers transformed into “science wizards,” presenting a series of astonishing experiments: amazing oil-water separation, spectacular elephant toothpaste, magically appearing blessing messages, thrilling fire-in-hand, quietly expanding balloons…

The children not only widened their eyes to learn the science behind these fascinating experiments but also actively participated. Under professional guidance throughout, they experienced the charm of chemical reactions firsthand. When receiving iodine-reveal cards prepared by experimenters — inscribed with blessings like “Get into Tsinghua,” “Get into Peking University,” “100 points” and cute cartoons — surprise and joy were beyond words.

 

After lunch break came the highlight — a wisdom exchange session! Four young Ph.D.s from Tsinghua University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Newcastle (Australia), and China University of Mining and Technology stood ready to answer the children’s questions.

From “Can carbon dioxide be turned into useful things?” to “Is electrolyte safely handled because of robots?”, the children’s innocent yet imaginative questions made the Ph.D.s exclaim in admiration. Laughter and applause filled the venue.

Next, Dr. Zhang Tao, Chairman and General Manager of North Star Recycling, shared his own research story and environmental philosophy in an entertaining and humorous way, encouraging the children to stay curious, study hard, and become the force that changes the world in the future.

The climax of the event — the “Green Future Innovators” creative painting session — took center stage! Transforming into little designers, the children held paintbrushes and unleashed their creativity on paper. They depicted the green future in their hearts: a green Earth covered in flowers, mountains and rivers fitting together like precision gears, robots that instantly turn waste into resources, giant ships sailing through green waters and mountains, digital homes enveloped in greenery…

After timed creation, the children eagerly raised their hands, confidently walked onto the stage, and loudly shared the ideas and dreams behind each painting. Every artwork radiated childlike innocence; every dream was filled with love for our planet.

The event concluded with a solemn and honorable awards ceremony. Three Ph.D.s served as award presenters, conferring “Green Future Innovator” certificates to each little innovator from the three teams. This was not only recognition of their study achievements that day but also high commendation for their keen interest in green technology, active participation in sustainability practices, and extraordinary environmental creativity and action!

This “Carbon Explorer Alliance – Green Future Innovators” study tour is a vivid practice of North Star Recycling actively fulfilling social responsibility and responding to the national “dual carbon” strategy. We meticulously designed every link, bringing children into close contact with the cutting-edge pulse of green low-carbon technology and deeply exploring the mysteries and value of the circular economy.

This was more than a knowledge recharge or horizon expansion — it was a journey of carefully sowing green seeds deep in young hearts. When spent batteries regain new life through advanced processes, when marvelous science experiments light up curious eyes, when colorful brushes outline sustainable future visions, when sparks of wisdom fly during Q&A sessions with Ph.D.s… We firmly believe that the green, innovative, and responsible seeds planted today will take root, sprout, and thrive in the future.

Cultivating future leaders of green living and supporting the nation’s “dual carbon” goals — North Star Recycling stands ready as the soil and guide for these dreams. Let us look forward together: may these vibrant and creative “little carbon innovators” paint an even greener, lower-carbon, and better world for us in the future!

 

 

Science Behind the Experiments

Oil-Water Separation:

Oil is lighter than water (lower density), so it floats on the surface. More importantly, oil and water are “immiscible” — their molecular structures differ too greatly to mix. Even when shaken vigorously, they quickly separate again, with oil always on top.

Elephant Toothpaste:

When hydrogen peroxide solution encounters a catalyst (such as potassium iodide or yeast), it decomposes rapidly, producing large amounts of oxygen! Dish soap is blown into a foam fountain by the oxygen rush.

Iodine Reveal Writing:

First, write on paper using vitamin C solution (a reducing agent); after drying, it is colorless. When sprayed with iodine solution (containing iodine, an oxidizing agent), iodine turns the paper brown — but where writing exists, vitamin C instantly reduces iodine back to colorless iodide ions, so brown “disappears” and white text magically appears!

Fire-in-Hand:

First coat palms thoroughly with dish soap water, then dip into a container filled with butane (lighter fluid gas). When ignited, butane bubbles burn rapidly on the palm surface; the water film isolates skin and absorbs heat, flames last less than 1 second, burning only gas without scalding. (Professional operation only — do not imitate!)

One-Hit Balloon Expansion:

Solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is placed inside the balloon. At room temperature, dry ice sublimates directly into gas, expanding nearly 800 times in volume! Sealed inside, the gas has nowhere to escape, so it “inflates” the balloon. Hammering accelerates dry ice fragmentation, increasing air contact and speeding up the reaction. It feels cold because sublimation absorbs heat. (Do not touch dry ice carelessly.)