Artificial turf

Artificial turf is a surface made from special materials that look like real grass. It is used in places like sports stadiums, backyards, and businesses where grass would normally grow. Unlike real grass, artificial turf does not need water or regular cutting, though it does need cleaning sometimes. It is especially useful in places that do not get much sunlight, like indoor stadiums or areas far from the equator, because real grass would not grow well there.

Artificial turf became well-known in 1966 when a material called ChemGrass was put into the brand-new Astrodome. It was created by a company called Monsanto and named AstroTurf. Today, "AstroTurf" is a common name for any kind of artificial turf, even though it belongs to a different owner now.

Older versions of artificial turf have been improved over time. The first type had short fibers without any extra material mixed in. Later versions added longer fibers and sand to make it better. The newest types also include recycled rubber mixed with the sand. These newer kinds look more like real grass and are considered safer for sports, but many people still think grass is better. Some sports teams, players, and even local governments have spoken up against using artificial turf and have made rules to limit or stop its use.

History

David Chaney, who moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, helped create the first well-known artificial turf. His work was so important that a famous sports magazine called him the man "responsible for indoor major league baseball and millions of welcome mats."

Artificial turf was first used in 1964 at a school in Providence, Rhode Island. It became famous in 1966 when a special kind of artificial grass, called AstroTurf, was put in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The stadium tried to use real grass at first, but it didn’t work well. Because there wasn’t enough of the new artificial grass right away, only part of the field was ready when the season started. The rest was added a few months later.

Soon after, many stadiums in the United States and Canada started using artificial turf for both baseball and American football. Today, there are over 11,000 artificial turf fields in use across the country, with more than 1,200 added in just one year, 2013.

Sports applications

Baseball

Artificial turf was first used in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the Houston Astrodome in 1966. The grass there couldn’t survive because the dome’s ceiling didn’t let in enough sunlight. They replaced it with a special artificial grass called AstroTurf. This made “astroturf” a common name for artificial grass everywhere.

Many MLB stadiums later used artificial turf, especially in places where natural grass was hard to keep. Over time, newer, better artificial turf was developed. Today, a few MLB stadiums still use artificial turf, mostly because it’s easier to care for in places with harsh weather or special stadium designs.

American football

The first professional American football team to use artificial turf was the Houston Oilers in 1968. More teams followed, especially when they saw how well it worked in temporary stadiums. By 2021, about half of all NFL teams used artificial turf. Some players prefer natural grass, and there’s been discussion about whether turf might affect player health over time.

Canadian football

The first Canadian football stadium to use artificial turf was in Vancouver in 1970. Today, most Canadian Football League (CFL) stadiums use it because it handles cold weather better. Only one CFL stadium still uses natural grass.

Cricket

Some cricket fields use artificial or hybrid grass, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia. The first artificial turf cricket field in the U.S. opened in Fremont, California, in 2016.

Field hockey

Artificial turf changed field hockey a lot when it was introduced in the 1970s. It made the game faster and allowed for new playing styles. The turf used for hockey is different from other sports—it’s shorter and designed to keep the game fast.

Association football

Artificial turf is used in some association football (soccer) places where natural grass is hard to keep, like in very cold areas or busy stadiums. Its use changes depending on the rules of different leagues and countries. Some leagues allow it, while others ban it.

In the past, some clubs in Europe tried artificial turf but later went back to grass. Today, it’s allowed in some competitions but not in top leagues like the Premier League. Some players and fans have concerns about injuries on artificial turf.

Rugby union

Rugby union also uses artificial surfaces in some professional stadiums. Some fields mix natural grass with synthetic fibers to make a surface that lasts longer and handles weather better.

Tennis

Carpet has been used for indoor tennis for a long time. AstroTurf and other artificial surfaces are also used sometimes. There are even “artificial clay” surfaces that mimic real clay courts. Some famous tennis places like Wimbledon are looking into using hybrid grass that mixes natural and artificial fibers for a tougher surface.

Golf

Artificial turf is used on some golf driving ranges and putting greens. It’s cheaper and easier to care for than real grass, especially for places that don’t want to spend a lot. But it’s not used on regular golf course fairways because shots would damage it too much.

Pesäpallo

In pesäpallo, a sport similar to baseball, some stadiums use artificial grass under the clay playing surface.

Motor racing

Artificial grass is sometimes used around the edges of race tracks. It gives less grip than other surfaces and can sometimes cause problems for drivers if it gets stuck to their cars.

Other applications

Landscaping

Since the early 1990s, synthetic grass has been used more in dry areas of the western United States for homes and businesses. It saves water, but some places do not allow it because they want to keep natural gardens. In some places, people have had to pay fines or remove artificial grass because of these rules.

Airports

Airports sometimes use artificial grass because it has many benefits. It does not attract wild animals, it looks good all year, and it helps prevent damage from small objects on the runway. Some systems can even have special lights built into the turf.

Tanks for octopuses

Artificial turf is often used in tanks for octopuses, especially the Giant Pacific octopus, because it stops them from escaping. The turf prevents their suction cups from sticking tightly to the tank walls.

Environmental and safety concerns

The first big study looking at how artificial turf affects the environment and health came out in 2014. Since then, scientists have been researching possible risks, but it’s still hard to compare artificial turf with real grass because many things can change the results, like how the turf is made, how often it’s used, and what kind of care it gets.

Artificial turf can warm up more than real grass when the sun shines, and it doesn’t help take in carbon dioxide like plants do. Some studies say real grass might harm the environment more because it needs more work to build and keep up. But other studies say artificial turf can cause more pollution, especially with tiny bits of plastic and rubber getting into the air and water.

Even though many think artificial turf doesn’t need much care, it still needs regular cleaning and fixing to stay safe and work well. There are also worries that chemicals from the turf could be bad for health, especially for kids playing on it. Some people are concerned that playing on artificial turf might lead to more injuries than on real grass, like more knee and toe injuries, because the surface is harder and doesn’t move much. Scientists and governments are still studying these issues to understand the best ways to use artificial turf safely.