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| Science |
| Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles |
| 2018-04-17 |
| This could end badly. We seen dis movie. [Guardian] Scientists have created a mutant enzyme that breaks down plastic drinks bottles ‐ by accident. The breakthrough could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis by enabling for the first time the full recycling of bottles. The new research was spurred by the discovery in 2016 of the first bacterium that had naturally evolved to eat plastic, at a waste dump in Japan. Scientists have now revealed the detailed structure of the crucial enzyme produced by the bug. The international team then tweaked the enzyme to see how it had evolved, but tests showed they had inadvertently made the molecule even better at breaking down the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic used for soft drink bottles. |
| Posted by:Alistaire Untervehr8459 |
| #10 Actually, from what I gather reading the article, it breaks the plastic down into... well, plastic. Only at its most basic, oily level where it can be made into more plastic stuff. Which should make large scale recycling financially feasible, rather than a pseudo-scam we have right now. So, on the whole, it sounds good. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2018-04-17 19:57 |
| #9 It took me months to get over "Ice Nine." Now this? . |
| Posted by: OregonGuy 2018-04-17 15:36 |
| #8 But what does it shit? |
| Posted by: newc 2018-04-17 14:54 |
| #7 Isn't that called 'soap'? At least with some on the left? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2018-04-17 13:18 |
| #6 Call me when they develop an enzyme that consumes democrats. |
| Posted by: Clem Elminens6857 2018-04-17 13:15 |
| #5 I read that. It definitely did not end well. As i recall it didn't start well either - something about an airplane dropping ou of the sky for 'no apparent reason'. Amazon link - you can even get it on Kindle.. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2018-04-17 11:23 |
| #4 He means Mutant 59: the plastic eaters, AA5839 |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2018-04-17 11:14 |
| #3 I did too ("Needle"). but the mattes were kept in vats. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2018-04-17 10:51 |
| #2 I read a science fiction book about a plastic eating bacteria. It didn't end well. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2018-04-17 08:11 |
| #1 So, shoes, dashboards and carseats, chairs, roofing, ... It eats plastic, and excretes OIL? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2018-04-17 06:22 |