Science

13166 readers

1 users here now

Subscribe to see new publications and popular science coverage of current research on your homepage

founded 6 years ago

MODERATORS

MinutePhrase@lemmy.ml

265

We are just getting started’: the plastic-eating bacteria that could change the world (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 years ago by Bebo@literature.cafe to c/science@lemmy.ml

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

When a microbe was found munching on a plastic bottle in a rubbish dump, it promised a recycling revolution. Now scientists are attempting to turbocharge those powers in a bid to solve our waste crisis. But will it work?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Flyberius@hexbear.net 18 points 2 years ago (5 children)

It will immediately start eating all the plastic that we are still using causing untold damage. Believe me. When I mentioned this before some techbro smuggly suggested that the scientists would just invent some sort of plastic that they couldn't eat. Thus setting is back to where we started.

[–] peter@feddit.uk 0 points 2 years ago

They wouldn't just release a plastic eating bacteria like some sort of bioweapon. I could see that being a problem if it got out by mistake but still, how would it spread? What would stop us just using chemicals to kill any that got out like we already do with bacteria?

load more comments (4 replies)