The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Topic started by: endicom on April 18, 2018, 01:21:53 am

Title: Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles
Post by: endicom on April 18, 2018, 01:21:53 am

The Guardian
Damian Carrington
Apr. 16, 2018

Scientists have created a mutant enzyme that breaks down plastic drinks bottles – by accident. The breakthrough could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis by enabling for the first time the full recycling of bottles.

The new research was spurred by the discovery in 2016 of the first bacterium that had naturally evolved to eat plastic, at a waste dump in Japan. Scientists have now revealed the detailed structure of the crucial enzyme produced by the bug.

The international team then tweaked the enzyme to see how it had evolved, but tests showed they had inadvertently made the molecule even better at breaking down the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic used for soft drink bottles. “What actually turned out was we improved the enzyme, which was a bit of a shock,” said Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, UK, who led the research. “It’s great and a real finding.”

More... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/16/scientists-accidentally-create-mutant-enzyme-that-eats-plastic-bottles?CMP=twt_gu (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/16/scientists-accidentally-create-mutant-enzyme-that-eats-plastic-bottles?CMP=twt_gu)

Title: Re: Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles
Post by: Cyber Liberty on April 18, 2018, 04:55:21 am

Wonder what they'll call it?  Ice Nine?

Title: Re: Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles
Post by: Frank Cannon on April 18, 2018, 05:08:41 am

How about we make shit out of glass again and drink water from the tap. It was a great way to not have plastic bottles everywhere back in the day before fairies and morons needed to carry around water all day like a bunch of effing camels.

Title: Re: Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles
Post by: thackney on April 18, 2018, 12:39:23 pm

Quote from: Frank Cannon on April 18, 2018, 05:08:41 am

How about we make shit out of glass again and drink water from the tap. It was a great way to not have plastic bottles everywhere back in the day before fairies and morons needed to carry around water all day like a bunch of effing camels.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Glass_Beach_Fort_Bragg.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_Beach_(Fort_Bragg,_California)

Title: Re: Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles
Post by: Frank Cannon on April 18, 2018, 12:43:02 pm

Quote from: thackney on April 18, 2018, 12:39:23 pm

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Glass_Beach_Fort_Bragg.jpg)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_Beach_(Fort_Bragg,_California)

That's actually a protected tourist attraction. If that was a Deer Park plastic bottle beach.....not so much.