Plastic pollution is skyrocketing, choking our planet with 390 million tons of waste each year. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are fighting back with a clever tool: engineered microbes that eat plastic and turn it into valuable chemicals!
Professor Ting Lu and his team designed a "microbial army" with two specialized strains of bacteria. One chomps on the main ingredient in plastic bottles (PET), while the other transforms it into useful stuff like biodegradable plastic and building blocks for medicines. This teamwork system proved much more efficient than solo bacteria, paving the way for custom-made microbes that produce different treasures from plastic waste.
While the current focus is on PET, the team believes their method could be adapted to munch on other plastic types. Ultimately, they aim to build a sustainable future where plastic isn't just trash, but a delicious snack for specially-designed microbes!
Remember, everyone can play a part. Carry reusable bags, recycle diligently, and spread the word about this exciting solution to a growing problem. Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and feed our planet a healthy dose of microbial magic!


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Kudos to the researchers for coming up with a clever tool to fight back plastic pollution
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42 w
Plastics can relate a nightmare and if anything could be done about the same then the better
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43 w
Any innovation geared towards getting rid if plastics is highly welcome
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Dear George Kariuki Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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43 w
A sustainable future where plastic becomes a resource, not just a problem .. .Who knew :)
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This is the kind of initiative that gives alot of hope to finding ways to fight plastic pollution
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This approach shows great promise in addressing the urgent issue of plastic pollution, offering a sustainable and innovative solution.
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The shift we really been waiting for to rid our planet of hazardous plastics
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This is a groundbreaking initiative.
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We do need to explore alternative ways of dealing with the plastic menace we're faced with or face extinction