A enzyme that eats plastic.

[peterperkins]

Clever but scary in equal measure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-4378...

Could help cure a massive problem in a controlled recycling environment..

But what if escapes, could exist as is, and rapidly attack plastics in use????

[Beati Dogu]

A laudable aim. The amount of secondary packaging these days is ridiculous too.

Although it reminds me of the the bit from the Andromeda Strain where the reconnaissance pilot's face mask starts dissolving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMbSpnlOOtE

[Smiler.]

Excellent. Finally, the end of social media bloggers & the Kardashians.

[MartG]

The BBC were way ahead...

"A plane dissolves in mid-air, its plastic components eaten away. Doomwatch faces its first challenge: to halt the disastrous spread of a man-made virus with the power to melt all plastic."

Doomwatch, series 1, episode 1, Feb 1970

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0564476/

[Ian Geary]

An article in the Guardian likens these enzymes more to the ones used in washing powder and bio fuel creation.

But yes, my first thought was what would happen if they got out of a controlled recycling environment.

Let's hope the scientists don't keep them in a plastic box.

[Simpo Two]

It seems a decent idea to me. We use bacteria to break down poo in sewage farms; they don't run escape and destroy all organic matter.

[Beati Dogu]

It would given half a chance though. We have immune systems to protect us.

[xjay1337]

What if plastic evolves to be resistant to this new strain of bacteria?

We could have an epidemic!

Ok a serious note.... well done Science.

[Monty Python]

peterperkins said:

Clever but scary in equal measure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-4378...

Could help cure a massive problem in a controlled recycling environment..

But what if escapes, could exist as is, and rapidly attack plastics in use????

You've been watching The Andromeda Strain again....