this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2025
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Every year there is a new article about a scientist finding a new bacteria, funghi worm or other kind of species that can digest plastic. However they work only in perfect lab condition and on smaller scale. Sadly there is no real world usage yet.
I think the grand irony about this thing is that if there really was a bacteria that could eat away it plastic there would be a mass panic -- "new dangerous bacteria found eating away at plastic containers, all packaging rotting on store shelves!"
Bacteria can eat wood and paper. That doesn't mean they disintegrate on the shelf. Environmental conditions would still have to be right for that to happen.
I worry about it eating the plastic in our body. Unintended consequences
If it just eats plastic and nothing else. This is actually a good thing. Eat all the microplastics you can little bacteria
If the waste product is deadly in small amounts then it's still a disaster.
Yep. Ain't the bacteria that gets you, it's their shit. Same reason you can sterilize rotten food and still get sick.
You’re not wrong, but that’s what science and research ARE. If you want engineering and commercialization, go subscribe to those communities, not “science.”
Meal worms do indeed eat stryofoam, but not sure they would do it in the wild given other food sources.