I am curious at how many of these pointless reports are going to be made. I have seen countless reports like this and at the end of the day we are drowning in plastic.

[–] MemmingenFan923@feddit.org 25 points 2 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 18 points 2 months ago (2 children)

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!"

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago

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.

[–] tischbier@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I worry about it eating the plastic in our body. Unintended consequences

[–] Lucky_777@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If it just eats plastic and nothing else. This is actually a good thing. Eat all the microplastics you can little bacteria

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If the waste product is deadly in small amounts then it's still a disaster.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Yep. Ain't the bacteria that gets you, it's their shit. Same reason you can sterilize rotten food and still get sick.

[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

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.”

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Meal worms do indeed eat stryofoam, but not sure they would do it in the wild given other food sources.

[–] arakhis_@feddit.org 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

the solutions already exist, the customer & industry just doesnt want to adapt

[–] Zippygutterslug@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What choice does the customer really have? Plastic is a component of nearly everything that isn't food and packaging for nearly everything.

[–] arakhis_@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

example would be paper based alternatives like lets say dishwasher tabs.. society wont spend the money. and therefore these even more expensive packaging alternatives arent even in question of choice

at least thats what makes sense to me so far

[–] secretlyaddictedtolinux@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago

you get it