Scientists create a wooden knife that's three times sharper than steel

They’re good at moving food around a plate, but that’s really it.

The plastic sometimes works a little better, but that’s not great for the planet.

And then there’s theknives made from frozen human feces?

Don’t get me started on how poorly those cut through meat.

This was achieved by ensuring the wood retained a higher level of cellulose.

Li’s two-step process was able to remove these weaker components but retain the cellulose.

Coating the wood in mineral oil helps protect its sharpness during use and washing.

They discovered the two-step process the used prevented defects from creeping in.

The team didn’t stop at hardened wooden knives, either.

They also developed wooden nails, showing they were as sharp as conventional steel nails.

The knife’s function is impressive, but its manufacturing process could also be important.