An expedition to the Amazon by a group of Yale researchers has led to the discovery of a fungus that can break down plastic, possibly solving the world's rampant waste problem.The fungus, pestalotiopsis microspora, can survive on a diet of only polyurethane, one of the most common, and pollutant, industrial plastics used by humans. What's even more amazing is that the plastic-eating fungus can feast on polyurethane in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment - the perfect match for chowing down on trash at the bottom of a landfill.A group of Yale students made the breakthrough discovery in 2012, as part of the university's annual Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory with molecular biochemistry professor Scott Strobel. Venturing into the jungles of Ecuador, the mission was to allow "students to experience the scientific inquiry process in a comprehensive and creative way," according to the course's website.The group searched for plants within the Amazon, which is home to more species than almost anywhere else on Earth, and then cultured the microorganisms within the plant tissue.What they ended up finding was pestalotiopsis, which can effectively degrade one of the most destructive synthetic substances for the planet.Polyurethane, according to Co.Exist, is used for everything from garden hoses to shoes and truck seats. And once it becomes part of a heaping landfill, it stays there for generations.The world's waste problem is not going to go away on its own, and manufacture and consumption of plastics over recent decades is only raising more concerns. About 32 million tons of plastic was thrown away in the United States in 2012 alone - only nine percent of it was recycled. The Yale team fears that this plastic problem poses a major threat to natural ecological systems.The fungal findings were reported in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology in 2012, concluding the microbe is "a promising source of biodiversity from which to screen for metabolic properties useful for bioremediation."
If we utilize it in landfills, how do we keep it contained?
tell every fuckwitted asshole who is currently burning down the rainforest
It's things like this fungus that are destroyed when you go slashing and burning to raise some fucking cattle to sell to McDonalds.
Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 27, 2014, 10:33:12 AM tell every fuckwitted asshole who is currently burning down the rainforest I'm more concerned with England's ancient woodlands which we're losing.
You mean the poor worker that has to cut down those trees, or the person sitting on a leather chair worth $2k in Chicago?Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 27, 2014, 10:33:12 AMIt's things like this fungus that are destroyed when you go slashing and burning to raise some fucking cattle to sell to McDonalds.
Quote from: Meta Cognition on October 27, 2014, 10:42:09 AMQuote from: Mr Psychologist on October 27, 2014, 10:33:12 AM tell every fuckwitted asshole who is currently burning down the rainforest I'm more concerned with England's ancient woodlands which we're losing.Yeah, the English countryside is being raped by those god awful wind turbines, and we are losing our forests. If the Amazon rainforest goes though, we will have much bigger problems.
Did they say how much they could degrade within a certain amount of time?
Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on October 27, 2014, 10:28:55 AMIf we utilize it in landfills, how do we keep it contained?
Are you fucking serious right now?I wanted to make that. I came up with this idea 6 years ago. Well there goes one of my big ideas on how to utilize my biotechnology degree. FUCK.
Next thing you know, we'll be finding a fungi that feeds on radiation.
Quote from: Mr. Admirals on October 28, 2014, 08:32:57 AMNext thing you know, we'll be finding a fungi that feeds on radiation.. . . You should probably visit Chernobyl.
I'm getting chills right now. We just found mother nature's holy grail-key that unlocks our salvation. Imagine, if we didn't discover this for another 30 years, it might be extinct from deforestation. ;_; Seriously though, what's taking so long? Let's put this baby to work! Next thing you know, we'll be finding a fungi that feeds on radiation.
Plastic-eating fungus discovered
