Apr 10 2012
In the Jungle, The Mighty Junlge
The amazon basin is perhaps the most unique ecosystem in the world. Home to the longest river and some of the most exotic speices of animals, the rainforest holds main surprises. In an expedition into the jungle earlier this year, Yale researchers discovered an incredible bacteria that can not only break down polyurethane (the most common type of plastic) but actually break down polyurethane in a completely anaerobic environment. This would mean that pestalotiopsis microspora (the fungus) would be able to break down plastics at the bottom of landfills, where there is little to no oxygen whatsoever. The researchers are hoping to unlock the enzymes that the pestalotiopsis microspora uses in order to test the results on the waste problem that we are currently facing.
Leave it to mother nature to save us from our own wicked ways. The fungus has yet to show any negative byproducts, however it is important that researches try to understand the chemical break down before they unleash the fungus on our trash. Although this maybe the solution to degrading harmful plastics, the production of plastics still causes degradation to our ecosystem and it is important to continue fighting for reusable and renewable materials to replace harmful disposable plastics.