4 ms·

And then the ocean water and plastic-eating enzymes make their way into the fresh water supply, dissolving plastic pipes and appliances everywhere. Sounds like

And then the ocean water and plastic-eating enzymes make their way into the fresh water supply, dissolving plastic pipes and appliances everywhere. Sounds like a J. G. Ballard novel.

happyopossum 4y ago
PVC and ABS are used in water pipes, PET is used in bottles. It seems unlikely that these bacteria would have the ability to break down 3 completely different types of ‘plastic’.
- aidenn0 4y ago
  HDPE is used in both plastic bottles and freshwater plumbing (under the name PEX).
  - pawelk 4y ago
    From the Wikipedia page on PEX (Cross-linked polyethylene) > It is also used for natural gas and _offshore oil applications_, chemical transportation, and transportation of sewage and slurries. So yeah, a bacteria capable of dissolving that shouldn't be released anywhere near an offshore oil pipeline.
    - hinkley 4y ago
      Tyvek is also polyethylene.
- Angostura 4y ago
  Life ... uh - you know the rest
- ChrisLomont 4y ago
  Even widespread destruction of any one of those would cause massive destruction to humanity as machines, pumps, pipes, water plants, sewage plants, transportation systems, and more fail. Water touching plastic components are everywhere.
  - trashtester 4y ago
    I suppose plastics are a bit like antibiotics. The more we use it, the more nature will adapt. On the other hand, we probably still have decades, if not hundreds of years, before we see the full effect. Plenty of time to prepare alternatives that doesn't carry a usable form of energy inside. Maybe something like this?: https://zoltek.com/carbon-fiber/what-is-oxidized-fiber/ https://zoltek.com/carbon-fiber/what-is-oxidized-fiber/
- dylan604 4y ago
  It's a good thing evolution is a myth /s
- chefandy 4y ago
  > It seems unlikely that these bacteria would have the ability to break down 3 completely different types of ‘plastic’. FTA: "The research scanned more than 200 million genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic."
  - lmm 4y ago
    Right - presumably those 10 different types of plastic are broken down by different enzymes among those 30,000, which are found in different genes among those 200 million.
Bolkan 4y ago
"my name is Alice"
me_me_mu_mu 4y ago
Maybe.. not a terrible idea. It would get rid of plastic which is probably both the best and worst thing we have created.

And then the ocean water and plastic-eating enzymes make their way into the fresh water supply, dissolving plastic pipes and appliances everywhere. Sounds like a J. G. Ballard novel.

happyopossum 4y ago

PVC and ABS are used in water pipes, PET is used in bottles. It seems unlikely that these bacteria would have the ability to break down 3 completely different types of ‘plastic’.

aidenn0 4y ago
HDPE is used in both plastic bottles and freshwater plumbing (under the name PEX).
- pawelk 4y ago
  From the Wikipedia page on PEX (Cross-linked polyethylene) > It is also used for natural gas and _offshore oil applications_, chemical transportation, and transportation of sewage and slurries. So yeah, a bacteria capable of dissolving that shouldn't be released anywhere near an offshore oil pipeline.
  - hinkley 4y ago
    Tyvek is also polyethylene.
Angostura 4y ago
Life ... uh - you know the rest
ChrisLomont 4y ago
Even widespread destruction of any one of those would cause massive destruction to humanity as machines, pumps, pipes, water plants, sewage plants, transportation systems, and more fail. Water touching plastic components are everywhere.
- trashtester 4y ago
  I suppose plastics are a bit like antibiotics. The more we use it, the more nature will adapt. On the other hand, we probably still have decades, if not hundreds of years, before we see the full effect. Plenty of time to prepare alternatives that doesn't carry a usable form of energy inside. Maybe something like this?: https://zoltek.com/carbon-fiber/what-is-oxidized-fiber/ https://zoltek.com/carbon-fiber/what-is-oxidized-fiber/
dylan604 4y ago
It's a good thing evolution is a myth /s
chefandy 4y ago
> It seems unlikely that these bacteria would have the ability to break down 3 completely different types of ‘plastic’. FTA: "The research scanned more than 200 million genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic."
- lmm 4y ago
  Right - presumably those 10 different types of plastic are broken down by different enzymes among those 30,000, which are found in different genes among those 200 million.

Bolkan 4y ago

"my name is Alice"

me_me_mu_mu 4y ago

Maybe.. not a terrible idea. It would get rid of plastic which is probably both the best and worst thing we have created.