A group of students and professors from Yale University have found a fungi in the Amazon rainforest that can degrade and utilize the common plastic polyurethane (PUR). As part of the university’s Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory educational program, designed to engage undergraduate students in discovery-based research, the group searched for plants and cultured the micro-organisms within their tissue.
Several active organisms were identified, including two distinct isolates of Pestalotiopsis microspora with the ability to efficiently degrade and utilize PUR as the sole carbon source when grown anaerobically, a unique observation among reported PUR biodegradation activities.
Polyurethane is a big part of our mounting waste problem and this is a new possible solution for managing it. The fungi can survive on polyurethane alone and is uniquely able to do so in an oxygen-free environment. The Yale University team has published its findings in the article ‘Biodegradation of Polyester Polyurethane by Endophytic Fungi’ for the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal.
If we had a way to degrade plastic that would be fantastic, and if its a natural process then it could be possible to make it into fuel!
Reblogged this on DanEverest.com.
This could be BIG. As long as we don’t destroy the ecosystem to get the fungi, this could solve part of our waste problem. Thanks for sharing and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Yes thats true, Pam Cameron. We musn’t destroy the ecosystem
Wow. This is amazing. I had no idea anything could eat plastic!
There is supposedly a breed of fungus growing on the reactor
core of Chernobil that is utilizing the radioactivity in a kind of
photosynthsis. (The same way plants use sunlight.) and it only
“learned” to do this recently. A common species has darkened
it’s color and moved in closer to ground zero. It boggels my mind
how something so toxic to humans is a rich new resource for
this obscure lifeform. It cannot however reduce the radioactivity.
Suffice to say it is merly basking in the poisonous glow of the
ruined reactor. Unlike these helpful bugs, this one just seems
to be showing off. I heard of things that supposedly eat cyinide
too. Google “Extremeaphiles” for more of these impossible life
formes.
Wasn’t oxygen poisonous to the organisms of early Earth, and yet nowadays most (all?) complex animals require it to live.
I heard it was the actions of the first trees
that turned the sky blue and made it possible
for the first breather’s of oxigen to leave the
sea. Organisms that thrived on the poisonous
air could not compeat with the arobic life.
oxigen it turns out – is volitile stuff, things
that breath it mature quickly but often have
very short life spans compared to things that
no not. – many of these early forms still live
miles beneath the earth’s surface. Certin
mineral viens, and even crude oil itself, may
be formed from the actions of these primitive
creatures – that are basicially just a few Dna
strands in a protein coat, and yet can live for
a hundred years.
often I wonder – what if man could only find a way
to live without oxygen . . . and the free-radicals it
produces – how long could a body last then?
Maybe the problem of the “World” is not the growing quantity of polyurethane but the waste-producing machine which we call civilization.
Sounds like the beginnings of a horror movie.
Yeah, to rest of life on earth humans are
a great unexploited resorce. If is food to
be had something will find a way to eat it -
As they said in the movie Jurassic park -
Life will find a way.
It really does
Yess! So we can finally start working on getting rid of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (AKA Pacific Trash Vortex)? That would be swell.
quiero ser mi blog
amo a big time rush
big time rush son geniales y muy listos
Can this be applied to the islands of plastic floating in the pacific?
when grown anaerobically . . . That means it doesen’t like
oxygen, So I would guess no. It might however thrive when
buried in land fills? :/}
This was very interesting and exciting news. What waste does the fungi give off, and is it safe? What tests have been done.
If this absolutely amazing… if this pans out like they are suggesting here, this could easily be most of the most important “green” discoveries yet.
Great idea, but like many, offers an excuse to keep using plastic rather than conserving what we have, like eating low fat crisps to lose weight – result is many people eat double. cheers.
I like the way you think. Narrow-focus and things seem easier, clear. But think LARGE and things get complex in a hurry. We’re living in a big place!
That’s my concern, as well. We’ll forget the importance of reducing and reusing altogether.
It’s an interesting discovery, to be sure. But I am pretty sure we humans will find a way to screw it up, given our track record.
It’s true, when you think it safe u use more – excessive
packageing still uses up lots of energy. Even if it can be
safely disposed. Plastic like the oil that makes it is a
limited resource. I love the stuff, it has revoulutionized
the world like no metal ever could, I feel sad to have to
throw it away sometimes.
Fascinating. Thank you. I wonder at it’s ability to be controlled, say in terms of the plastic in medical equipment, should it become widespread.
This is great news, especially for us who unfortunately love playing a sport that scatters plastic into the environment.
Very interesting! In the right hands with the right intentions it could be a wonderful find. Thanks for sharing!
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Reblogged this on dmaportland.
This could potentially solve some of our pollution products, but it must be kept a little known fact. If it gets put into practise and is publicly known it will become an excuse to use plastic without guilt.
Reblogged this on Daisy Sangha’s Blog and commented:
There’s a solution to any & every problem:)
1) I hate to imagine what would happen if this stuff spores off and wanders beyond its designated area of application.
2) What say we all just use less crap in the first place? Sustainability will not be achieved by inventing freaky X-files techno-solutions that allow us to keep living like first-world Americans forever.
It is a paradox that the solution to the plastic waste problem is found in the amazon. This is because it is right there, in the amazon forest, where the petroleum that serves as the raw material to make plastic is found. And where the oil companies are destroying the whole ecosystem and ancient cultures to extract the oil. So, we devastate the amazon in order to fabricate plastic; then we get tons of plastic waste all over the place; we go to the amazon to find the solution to all that waste; but the amazon forest is destroy by the oil companies. Isn’t that aburd?
http://wp.me/p1rgzN-cc
you couldn’t be more correct! Absurd indeed.
Come to think of it, there is a microbe that eats oil -
so I guess we are not the only ones – there also seems
to be a mirobe that eats garbage and poops oil. So there
may be more where that came from. Perhaps these oil
eating bugs have learned to eat plastic as varent of their
usual diet? In land so rich in oil, it starts to make since
something there might eat it – and plastic too.
This just further proves that nature has a cure for everything, but the more people trash the environments, dump plastic and other toxic materials and chemicals, and clear cut rainforests and other biological systems, the less likely it is that we can save what little we have left in our world.
- and then the pollution eating microbes will have earth all themselves.
I wish so many people would just open their eyes, bugger away from bureaucracies and other log jamming things like that and just do what’s right for both the world and her creatures, including us.
I too am bothered by man’s great intelligence
but lack of any significant ability to use it for the good of any one else. Fortunately nature is often like a market economy – If there a job opening -
someone will take it. Though having a fungus
solve major problems for us bares questions
on who’se really in charge.
Really neat! What with the plastic homosapiens have dumped over the years, these fungi can even hope for global domination. Unless, we find a way to eat them too. Hmm…then it’ll be fully recycled.
The surest way to destroy anything is to convince humans to eat it.
Yep…its amazing what a sprinkle of lemon juice,salt and chilli powder can do to things!
and drawn butter – I could eat my own head with drawn butter.
These findings are quite interesting. Thanks for sharing. what other characteristics do these fungi have besides feeding off of plastic?
Great post and hopefully part of the solution. In the mean time you can find loads of plastic free products on my blog listed as part of my ongoing plastic boycott x
I’de love to see that computer you have woven out of himp!
Just kidding – disposible plastics are the real enimy. It’s sad to
see such beautiful containers crafted for the trash can, blech -
and to think of the fuel expended to make more and more, sad.
I think plastic is a wonder product that has changed the world – computers being one such use. What I hate is the way we use it for everything fit for purpose or not. I fight plastic abuse and the environmental consequences of that abuse wherever I find it. I know – I need something catchier .
great post and hopefully part of the solution to out plastic pollution problems. In the mean time you can find loads of plastic free products listed in my blog as part of our ongoing plastic boycott. Plastic free and loving it x
Some doofas wanted to make a self heating coffie cup
that mixed chemicals in the cup wall. The thing was Huh?
Disposible? and he said it like it was a good thing? This
is not the direction we should be going in.
WTF? as if instant coffee didn’t taste bad enough already.
instant tea is better. I wonder why that is?
Sounds good in theory, however what happens when the fungi encounters different compositions of plastic, and eventually consumes one that produces a toxic substance that causes a pandemic? Hey it’s possible.
Mass poisoning probably. I don’t think it could cause a disease.
Also – It doesen’t seem to like oxygen – so there is that . . . A lot
of this chemicle eating stuff lives in hyper specific inviroments.
This sounds fabulous, but we should use caution before breeding it and dumping it into our landfills. Kudzu was going to be great as forage for livestock. Then, when it got out of control, the Japanese beetle was going to solve the kudzu problem. Then we had to invent ways to kill the Japanese beetle because it likes just about every other plant in America better than it likes kudzu. Imagine what would happen if our trash-eating bacteria got loose and ate plastic things which are NOT trash.
It’s sounds like an anaerob – is it? If so exposier to
air woulden’t be too good for it. There is something
on the bottom of the sea that supposedly eats sulpher
but the germ must be kept in water far above the boiling
point to stay alive. For all we know it may already be at
work deep in our land fills. Nature dosen’t see pollution
- it sees new frontiers to populate with new and exciteing
creatures.
On the other hand someone thought to use mongooses on
a rat problem but made it worse when they ate all the snakes.
Why did they not see that comming?
Holy Shit!!! That’s exciting!!! They’re gonna be some happy fungii
Reblogged this on madaboutboos and commented:
the end is not nigh =) always a pleasant to come accross some good news!
Reblogged this on Ash's Blog and commented:
Nice.
Reblogged this on mirialthomas.
Great piece of news; would love to see NPR to a bit on this!
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Great story! Not sure if this is one of the evolutionary miracles of nature.
Nature abhores a vacume it does.
This is fantastic! Seriously! Obviously this does not mean we don’t follow the three Rs but this is an incredible find for the world we live in today — most of the world is not reducing their plastic consumption.
Excellent find, my friend.
I think it will serve as a benefit to mankind as well as electric cars do or will in the near future!!!!
This is pretty cool but I agree with Barb. We need to take more responsibility for our consumption.
Reblogged this on unicornivore and commented:
Sounds very promising. Especially since now it’s not just the PLASTIC that is the problem but the ESTROGEN INDUCING/CARCINOGENIC BPA additives within said plastics. Let’s hope and pray this magical fungi can take care of that business too. *fingers crossed**
I just reblogged this and added to the fold that it would be amazing if it not only could get rid of our troublesome plastics problems but also the carcinogens and estrogen-enhancer BPA out of the mix too….considering all of the magical things (in literally every way) I’m optimistic that it will handle these important aspects as well. Here’s to the rainforest!!!! Screw deforestation and the big ‘highway to nowhere’ financed, reportedly by the BUSH’s/NEOCONs to get ppl to live along the inner rainforest and clear out the land themselves, only to discover that the dirt doesn’t have the consistency needed to farm upon. Damn neocons — just a polite way to say nazi, really. I’m digressing
Good post!!
Don’t forget antidepressents in the waterways -
Fish die because they no longer give a crap. it
would be so funny if it wasen’t true.
Hay que utilizar todo lo que la naturaleza nos proporciona y para esto mas aun.
I have to reblog this. I was just talking about this very thing last night to some friends. This is a serious discovery. Great post.
Reblogged this on Athletic Supporters.
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There is no such thing as good news I guess. Is self-control really so difficult? I take heart from this, With a positive view of humanity who knows where discoveries like this will lead.
Yes. There is a theroy out there that we may
be less prone to free will then we think. Creatures
of habit and all that. Their may be something
special about people but we are still 99.9 percent
animal – and will behave as such 99.9 percent
of the time – also, animals tend to survive – so
I guess that means we are destined to stop
being stupid sooner or lator.
This could be great fodder for some zany sci-fi movie-could you imagine if everytime the fungi ate plastic it got bigger! Oh we would be in so much trouble!
I’ve written a steampunk novel called RUST,
where there is mention of a metal eating entity.
its an insect like thing that merges with animals
and people, turning them into monsters. The
main character must fight her way through a
ruined amusment park seeking clues left by a
hidden ally.
it’s posted on my blog -
http://rastelly.com/2011/06/rust-by-rebecca-a-stelly-c-2011/2011/08/13/
Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters (1971) (with Gerry Davis)
Are you joking? Is that for real?
Sure is honey
Reblogged this on Thisbeautifullife and commented:
I love all things France!
Reblogged this on Thisbeautifullife and commented:
This looks delicious and refreshing! Must try.
Reblogged this on Thisbeautifullife and commented:
Excellent choices!
Reblogged this on Thisbeautifullife and commented:
So adorable.
Reblogged this on Thisbeautifullife.
I was initially amazed but then skeptical about the fungus. What if the byproduct of the plastic ingestion is a seed that grows to transmit high frequency sound waves that all humans are deaf to and invites flesh eating monsters from a planet we haven’t yet discovered? Good news for the moment, nonetheless =).
I like the way your mind works.
You should write for the sci -fi
channel -
heh. thank you. I have written something you might appreciate in regards to this plastic fungi topic on my blog. feel free to check it out.
It could be awesome if true!
Can we use them for gas too??
Great news! Get out! Thanks.
Reblogged this on The Politico in Wonderland.
Reblogged this on Globe-combing and commented:
How curious…
Reblogged this on houseofzippers and commented:
Go ahead, call me a tree hugger.
I read this article or a similar one a few weeks ago. I thought it was fantastic how we find the greatest discoveries in the most remote places. They have been saying for years that our greatest chance of finding the cures for most diseases is also probably in the rain forest.
This fungi would not go hungry in Australia! however i can only imagine the damage it could inflict on my car.
Kya birds in miroscopic form -
As long as they don’t cut down the rainforest now in order to dissolve plastic, it’s great news!!
If we could save the rainforest by feeding it plastic.
This would officially be futurama.
Love this blog visit mines http://www.zoology411.wordpress.com not perfect yet please feel free to give me advice
Reblogged this on Void Warranties.
Insect sounds like….a monster. One certainly wants to be super careful of the bug/any mutations.
Great I like ^^
Can they also find onethat dissolves ex-spouses? I’ll single-handedly fund that expedition! On a serious note, this is amazing. It goes to show that there there is balance in all things natural and man-made.
Oh My Plastic-Eating-Fungi God…
A great news indeed for environmentalists; and I don’t see any reason why shouldn’t everyone be one. Thanks for sharing.
great thing! seems plastic waste could be an old story.
keep it up!
Reblogged this on pindanpost and commented:
Then all our plastic sewer, waste, irrigation, conduit will all be eaten up…
Reblogged this on doodlejuice.
as I understand it, and I possibly don’t, microbes have been developing that can break down some of the simpler plastics i.e. the ones that are closest to the natural product, for some time now. But this is not some kind of nightmare scenario just a natural process. Like there are microbes that enable natural products to biodegrade. That doesn’t mean all our wooden telegraph poles disappear overnight and our dinner tables will vanish before our very eyes.
Also as we are developing more and more complex plastics everyday it is unlikely that the microbes will be able to deal with most of our new plastics.
Plastic is a wonder product because it doesnt rot – using to make one use throw items is so dumb. We are in effect making ever lasting litter. Quite frankly we deserve microbes eating our hoovers
A very good way to put it.
thanks
Sounds fun!
Reblogged this on Living Life.
Reblogged this on ToxQuest.
Great discover
Between these bacteria and the guy who eats airplanes, we can make a serious dent in the amount of waste in this world!
This is definitely deserving of “Freshly Pressed” front page… What a unique discovery. Here’s to hoping we don’t use this as an excuse to waste a little extra. Thanks for the article link!
Reblogged this on Explorations into Permaculture and commented:
Degradation of polyurethane by fungi? Paul Stamets (Mycelium Running) will be glad to hear this. Lets hope this initial finding pans out after further investigation and field trials.
I think they have also discovered plastic eating microbes in the ocean, which raises concerns that our plastic will eventually work its way through the food chain back to our dinner plates; ironically I am bemused by that idea of us eventually eating our own rubbish.
Reblogged this on greensyourthing and commented:
It’s extraordinary how adaptive organisms are, this could be a huge find.
This is great news. I always assumed plastic was indestructible, hopefully this method can be used quickly before the plastic takes over the earth.
I think this is great. Just don’t forget about possible negative side-affects or hazards associated with it. What if it mutated and or got out of control? What if there were fungus outbreaks in our homes, eating all our household plastics? Food for thought…
Reblogged this on The Book of Daniel and commented:
Whoah! The simplest solution would seem to be to harvest this fungus, and unleash it upon the world’s landfills! But what if in doing so, the fungus mutates into an unstoppable monster? If plastic won’t kill it, what will?
Great news!!! If only we weren’t in this predicament to begin with. I’m not a fan of plastic and yet I can’t seem to come home from the grocery store without something packaged in plastic. It’s everywhere!
We make these great strides to make our lives easier only to find out later than we’re only damaging ourselves and the world we live in. We should have stuck with the basics… as hard as the those were, we’ve only traded those hard times for a different set of challenges. At least our civilization had a chance now we’re the very reason for destruction!
Fascinating. Once again nature shows how adaptable it is.