arstechnica ,
@arstechnica@mastodon.social avatar

Researchers make a plastic that includes bacteria that can digest it

Bacterial spores strengthen the plastic, then revive to digest it in landfills.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/04/researchers-make-a-plastic-that-includes-bacteria-that-can-digest-it/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

scrwd ,
@scrwd@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica I have a few concerns - like when the plastic is "broken down" what chemicals are left in the soil that would otherwise be trapped in the plastic? Do these bacteria release the carbon in plastic into the atmosphere? Is it wise to help create bacteria that tolerates higher temperatures? And finally, is this another "Big Plastic" rouse to delay moving away from plastics altogether?

juliewebgirl ,
@juliewebgirl@mstdn.social avatar

@arstechnica

Will it continue digesting the plastics around it? Might end up with sinkholes where landfills were but seems worth it.

Ok wait. Toss that plastic bottle or whatever in the ocean (times order of magnitude like is currently done)... What else does the bacteria do?

Harm fish and wildlife?

Does it harm us if we leave the bottle in the car too long?

Yep, this is what my brain does when it hears about cool things.

maxoakland ,
@maxoakland@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica that’s so cool!

WideEyedCurious ,
@WideEyedCurious@mstdn.social avatar

@arstechnica On the one hand: Cool!
On the other hand: You want to release this into the wild!?! Are you nuts?

bison , (edited )
@bison@mastodon.social avatar

@arstechnica we already had an anime about that, it went very well

edit: found it again

Arjuna / Earth Girl Arjuna / Earth Maiden Arjuna

_ ,
@_@m.djw.li avatar

@arstechnica Fascinating, and more than just a neat party trick.

But these things can go badly in a hurry as well, a la Andromeda Strain.

zorinlynx ,
@zorinlynx@tiggi.es avatar

@arstechnica So we're breeding heat resistant bacteria that can digest plastic.

What could possibly go wrong?

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