Plastic-Degrading Microbes
The cluster discusses microbes, bacteria, fungi, and enzymes that break down plastics, including biodegradability of materials like PLA, environmental concerns, potential risks to in-use plastics, and alternatives to traditional plastics.
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PLA is biodegradable - not all plastics are around forever.
Any risk of the bugs eating the plastics that are still in use?
"Plastic" isn't a single molecule. Different types have different amounts of decomposition. PLA will break down in human timescales.
there are fungi that have evolved to eat plastic with no human intervention. we'll be fine.
More bro science, doesn't this have issues with plastics?
Article was paywalled for me, but in general Plastic does not decay so for products that are essentially consumables it's better if it doesn't stay and pollute the environment.
Easy. Invent a resilient plastic that the microbes don't like to chew. And start counting the money untill that plastic becomes the problem.
Doesn't really say what's left over after the plastic gets broken down.
Are we sure it's plastic and not biodegradable (e.g. starch based)?
Related Plastic List (589 points, 1 day ago, 179 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42525633