3 ms·

Didn't I just read about an engineered enzyme to break down metric tons of plastic waste? You can’t have both these futures. Because your roads will melt and bu

Didn't I just read about an engineered enzyme to break down metric tons of plastic waste? You can’t have both these futures. Because your roads will melt and buildings will collapse. There needs to be some coordination or authority

hardwaresofton 4y ago
We absolutely can have both of these futures -- if people use the right tool for the right job and both of these tools can coexist (even if not used in the exact solution). Also roads may just be the first use case for this technology but new thinkers and new people will find new usecases.
- jazzythom 4y ago
  What about the malicious actors in the crowd? This is an asymmetric vector with significant latency
  - whynotminot 4y ago
    A malicious actor could also dump termites on your lawn, start a fire, throw a rock through your window, etc. What you bring up is a point for the police to investigate, and maybe a few more lines in your insurance policy to cover. If you’ve made an enemy, it doesn’t really matter what your house is made of.
    - jazzythom 4y ago
      How about a billion dollar bridge?
      - whynotminot 4y ago
        Then maybe not? I’m guessing there’s a lot of risk analysis that goes into building billion dollar structures.
  - mattkrause 4y ago
    If it's this one from Lu et al. (20022; Nature[0]), it operates best in a 50-70˚C, pH-buffered solution. Plus, it benefits from thermal pre-treatment to break up the crystal structure. If someone floods your house--for days or weeks at a time--with a scalding solution, I think you're going to be annoyed regardless of what else is in it. [0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04599-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04599-z
bmitc 4y ago
I don't think society really cares. Just look at how much plastic is used in food takeout and packaging and several of the many other places where it basically serves no purpose.
woodruffw 4y ago
Sure you can, for the same reason that wood buildings and gasoline can coexist. You engineer around risks, and don’t introduce things that don’t need to be introduced.

hardwaresofton 4y ago

We absolutely can have both of these futures -- if people use the right tool for the right job and both of these tools can coexist (even if not used in the exact solution). Also roads may just be the first use case for this technology but new thinkers and new people will find new usecases.

jazzythom 4y ago
What about the malicious actors in the crowd? This is an asymmetric vector with significant latency
- whynotminot 4y ago
  A malicious actor could also dump termites on your lawn, start a fire, throw a rock through your window, etc. What you bring up is a point for the police to investigate, and maybe a few more lines in your insurance policy to cover. If you’ve made an enemy, it doesn’t really matter what your house is made of.
  - jazzythom 4y ago
    How about a billion dollar bridge?
    - whynotminot 4y ago
      Then maybe not? I’m guessing there’s a lot of risk analysis that goes into building billion dollar structures.
- mattkrause 4y ago
  If it's this one from Lu et al. (20022; Nature[0]), it operates best in a 50-70˚C, pH-buffered solution. Plus, it benefits from thermal pre-treatment to break up the crystal structure. If someone floods your house--for days or weeks at a time--with a scalding solution, I think you're going to be annoyed regardless of what else is in it. [0] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04599-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04599-z

bmitc 4y ago

I don't think society really cares. Just look at how much plastic is used in food takeout and packaging and several of the many other places where it basically serves no purpose.

woodruffw 4y ago

Sure you can, for the same reason that wood buildings and gasoline can coexist. You engineer around risks, and don’t introduce things that don’t need to be introduced.