Yale researchers identified a fungus with a rainforest habitat that has enzymes that are able to breakdown polyurethanes, the main component of plastic. As it is right now, nothing else is able to do this work and much of what fills our landfills are plastic or plastic based products. This fungus is also anaerobic, so it would be able to do its work in the low oxygen conditions of landfills.
What do you think of this? How should scientists procede? Are there any dangers associated with moving too quickly with research of this kind (thinking of biotechnology and genetic engineering)?
At first, this fungus sounds like a wonderful idea. But after that, it kind of scares me because what if the fungus gets out of head and starts eating everything? I know it might sound like a cheesy horror movie, but it could happen. Scientists definitely need to precede slowly and cautiously.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I think scientists NEED to put this fungus in landfills starting 50 years ago! EVERYBODY complains about plastic and how it is the ultimate downfall of our society in that it fills our lanfills and destroys our ecosystems. This fungus needs to happen...now. As for a reason to move slowly? No I dont think so. The crazy hypothesis that a fungus could overgrow out of hand and take down all the plastic in the world can be simply countered with a chemical that kills it around the borders of every landfill. The only ther concern I might have is it's effect on humans. Can it eat or harm us with any of its waste products from the reaction that takes place to decompose plastic?
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