Latest News

  • Home
  • Global
  • Scientists discovered a mushroom that eats plastic, and believe it could clean our landfills.
Scientists discovered a mushroom that eats plastic, and believe it could clean our landfills.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 IST
Scientists discovered a mushroom that eats plastic, and believe it could clean our landfills.

Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental issues of our time. And while a straw ban is not the way we're going to solve it — here's why – people everywhere are looking for ways to reduce plastic use and mitigate the effects of waste.

 
 

From handing out plastic bags with embarrassing labels to removing the plastic from six-packs to harnessing the power of a plastic-eating mutant (bacteria), more and more of us are working to find solutions to a growing global program.
 
Add one more strange and awesome plastic-killing discover to the list: A rare mushroom that feasts on plastic the same way you or I would when we go to that $5 buffet at Cici's. (I have been only once and I'm still thinking about it, even though just the thoughts are bad for my blood pressure.)
 
According to reports, the mushroom's plastic-devouring properties were first discovered in 2011, when a team of Yale undergraduates and their professor traveled to Ecuador for a research trip. They found the mushroom — Pestalotiopsis microspora — in the amazon and were astounded to find that the fungus not only subsists on polyurethane (it's the first plant to sustain itself only on plastic), but could do so without oxygen.
 
That means it could be planted at the bottom of landfills and happily eat its fill of plastic for eons to come! (Just like us at Cici's pizza!)
 
 
Despite our best efforts at increasing conservation and reducing waste, the U.S. continues to produce more plastic waste each year, while other recent studies suggest that recycling of plastic waste is actually declining.
 
The amount of plastic waste that we're producing is estimated to rise 3.8% each year, with an estimated 40 million tons of plastic waste expected to be generated in 2019 alone by American companies and consumers. National Geographic says that over the past 60 years, we've created an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste. An astonishing 83.7% of that waste is expected to end up in landfills. Anything we can do to put a dent into the damage we're creating could make a world of difference for us and the planet.
 
 
Will these mushrooms be the end to our plastic problems? More research is needed to tell. Until then, we can all help keep landfills cleaner by avoiding single-use plastics in our lives. 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
'Worse than prison': A rare look inside China's detention camps to 'brainwash' Muslims

ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...

Recently posted . 202K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
What The Shape Of Your Belly Button Says About Your Health

If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...

Recently posted . 9K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Horrifying Acts of Chemical Warfare and Gas Attacks

In this age of terror, there might be nothing more terrifying than the thought of an attack carried out with chemical weapons. We’ve all heard the horrific ...

Recently posted . 4K views . 4 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Best Gym Equipment Brands in India 2018

Body fitness is one thing that everyone wants to maintain irrespective of age. Going to the gym and doing some great exercise always helps to maintain your body fit...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Global

 Article
Fighting to safeguard infants

Mumbai resident Jincy Varghese writing to seek signatories to support her cause via Change.org said the following: ‘My blood still boils. It’s been ov...

Recently posted. 803 views . 4 min read
 

 Article
5 Reasons Why Azerbaijan Should Be On Your Bucket List

One thing that has caught my eye is how people are going to the same old travel destinations. All that you can see on Instagram are recycled images of one vacay s...

Recently posted. 835 views . 7 min read
 

 Article
Imbolc and Blue Moon: You’ve probably never heard of these Wicca festivals. Here’s why

  On January 31, when the whole world will admire the Blue Moon, a rare astronomical occurrence, Wiccans in Mumbai will worship the Moon Godde...

Recently posted. 694 views . 1 min read
 

 Video
Awesome Hairstyles



Recently posted . 808 views
 

 Video
Smart Man - Signboard maker



Recently posted . 750 views
 

 Reviews
Leaseweb hosting review



Recently posted . 2K views . 67 min read
 

 Reviews
The Best 5 Hiking Backpacks in India – Reviews & Buying Guide



Recently posted . 2K views . 140 min read
 

 Article
Studies Show That Wealthy And Powerful More Likely To Lie, Cheat And Steal

The idea that power and wealth can corrupt a person and negatively impact their ability to make decisions is not a new discovery. This is an ancient piece of knowle...

Recently posted. 743 views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Bitcoin use causing huge CO2 emissions: Study

Bitcoin mining has increased rapidly in recent years, raising the question of whether it is imposing an additional burden on the climate.  

Recently posted. 700 views . 1 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

Success is the sum of several small efforts repeated often day in and day out.
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top