at0m Posted February 1, 2012 http://gizmodo.com/5880768/amazonian-mushroom-eats-indestructible-plastics Amazonian Mushroom Eats Indestructible Plastics We use polyurethane to make just about everything—garden hoses, furniture, the entirety of my local 99-cent store. It's easy to produce, durable, and dirt cheap. What it isn't is recyclable—there isn't a single natural process that breaks it down. That is until a newly-discovered Amazonian fungus takes a bite. Pestalotiopsis microspora (not shown) is a resident of the Ecuadorian rainforest and was discovered by a group of student researchers led by molecular biochemistry professor Scott Strobel as part of Yale's annual Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory. It's the first fungus species to be able to survive exclusively on polyurethane and, more importantly, able to do so in anaerobic conditions—the same conditions found in the bottom of landfills. This makes the fungus a prime candidate for bioremediation projects that could finally provide an alternative to just burying the plastic and hoping for the best. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chnt Posted February 1, 2012 very interesting and exciting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whitewind Posted February 1, 2012 Nature does it again! I suppose it needs water and time to do it's thing, otherwise I would just seed it around the local mall, sit back and drink a beer. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted February 1, 2012 Very cool. Strange that they said that PU isn't recyclable - it can be and is recycled on a massive scale. I think they meant to say biodegradable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazonian Posted February 1, 2012 I thought this thread was about me. . joke. But very interesting non the less. Yes,another of natures marvels. Dontcha just love fungi. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CβL Posted February 1, 2012 I find this rather bittersweet. It's good that polyurethane can now be fully converted into whatever this fungus converts it to, but it seems bad that there's one less reason for humanity to curb rampant wastage. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Distracted Posted February 2, 2012 I find this rather bittersweet. It's good that polyurethane can now be fully converted into whatever this fungus converts it to, but it seems bad that there's one less reason for humanity to curb rampant wastage. Nonsense, a round of instant cup noodles on me! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OPP Posted February 2, 2012 Another reason to save the amazon rainforest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
