3 ms·

Given enough time, nature will evolve towards a more plastic accepting genome. Hopefully it will be fast enough!

by Traubenfuchs 4y ago

JohnFen 4y ago
As George Carlin once said, for all we know, humans are nature's way of manufacturing plastic.
- Traubenfuchs 4y ago
  Now I imagine a group of aliens evolved on a level that we are no more than bacteria to them observing us, marvelling over our lifeforms ability to produce plastic. "First alien life form synthesising plastic from their ancestors liquified dead remains discovered.", their tabloids tell them.
satvikpendem 4y ago
Trees did not decompose for millions of years and just piled up, since there were no fungi or bacteria that evolved to decompose wood. I'd rather not wait millions of years to see plastic decompose. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous#Rocks_and_coal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous#Rocks_and_coal
- philipkglass 4y ago
  There are already organisms that feed on plastic, albeit slowly. See this fascinating 2013 article for an introduction: "Life in the “Plastisphere”: Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris" https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/branco2014/files/2014/08/Zettler-2013-Plastisphere.pdf https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/branco2014/files/2014/... Plastics also break down to simpler hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide with prolonged exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately, these gaseous small molecules are greenhouse gases, but they don't persist for millions of years. "Production of methane and ethylene from plastic in the environment" https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200574 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal...
- Traubenfuchs 4y ago
  Its slowness is what I really hate about evolution. With sufficient energy, humans can make almost every environment habitable. Corals, butterflies and fish really need to step up their game. "Aeiouuu!!! The seas temperature increased by 2 degrees celsius over 50 years -I guess I will just surrender and die." just doesn't cut it in 2023 anymore. Bad attitude.

Given enough time, nature will evolve towards a more plastic accepting genome. Hopefully it will be fast enough!

JohnFen 4y ago

As George Carlin once said, for all we know, humans are nature's way of manufacturing plastic.

Traubenfuchs 4y ago
Now I imagine a group of aliens evolved on a level that we are no more than bacteria to them observing us, marvelling over our lifeforms ability to produce plastic. "First alien life form synthesising plastic from their ancestors liquified dead remains discovered.", their tabloids tell them.

satvikpendem 4y ago

Trees did not decompose for millions of years and just piled up, since there were no fungi or bacteria that evolved to decompose wood. I'd rather not wait millions of years to see plastic decompose. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous#Rocks_and_coal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboniferous#Rocks_and_coal

philipkglass 4y ago
There are already organisms that feed on plastic, albeit slowly. See this fascinating 2013 article for an introduction: "Life in the “Plastisphere”: Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris" https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/branco2014/files/2014/08/Zettler-2013-Plastisphere.pdf https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/branco2014/files/2014/... Plastics also break down to simpler hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide with prolonged exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately, these gaseous small molecules are greenhouse gases, but they don't persist for millions of years. "Production of methane and ethylene from plastic in the environment" https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200574 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal...
Traubenfuchs 4y ago
Its slowness is what I really hate about evolution. With sufficient energy, humans can make almost every environment habitable. Corals, butterflies and fish really need to step up their game. "Aeiouuu!!! The seas temperature increased by 2 degrees celsius over 50 years -I guess I will just surrender and die." just doesn't cut it in 2023 anymore. Bad attitude.