How Close are We to Plastic-Eating Bacteria?

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  • Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
  • Plastic waste is one of Earth’s biggest problems. It has transformed our everyday lives, but it pollutes our oceans and environment and infiltrates our food supply. As plastic eating bacteria evolve will they be enough to tackle this global problem?
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Комментарии • 73

  • @chrissscottt
    @chrissscottt 2 года назад +16

    Pull all the levers I say!

  • @slotcarpalace
    @slotcarpalace Год назад +2

    as of now, companies that use plastics have a free ride and are not responsible for any downstream effects. They make the mess yet they are not responsible for clean up. Our Mothers would not approve.

  • @ActionableInfo
    @ActionableInfo 2 года назад +4

    Just found this channel and after listening to how information dense and well explained this vid is, I subscribed and looked at your other vids. Addicted now.

  • @Leanna007
    @Leanna007 2 года назад +4

    You explain the details very well, some other websites didn't even mention the bacteria species and the mechanism👍
    Sten Gustaf Thulin invested plastic bags to reduce the cutting down of trees, he himself will always carry a folded plastic bag in his pocket, the problem arises when people make plastic as single use

    • @LaOwlett
      @LaOwlett 2 года назад

      Nearly no one uses a plastic bag once. Everyone I know uses grocery bags to put garbage in, instead of using a garbage bag.

    • @goodboi4939
      @goodboi4939 Год назад

      I’ve considered making utility rope from old plastic grocery bags for my emergency kit in my car.

    • @frankbrindley2424
      @frankbrindley2424 Год назад

      What's the byproduct of bacteria eating plastic?

  • @DrBenMiles
    @DrBenMiles  2 года назад +4

    Let me know what you think!

  • @bdr420i
    @bdr420i 2 года назад +2

    We shouldn't mind the higher price to save the planet 🤷🏾‍♀️

  • @bisma2421
    @bisma2421 Год назад

    Thank you so much for sharing!

  • @terenceiutzi4003
    @terenceiutzi4003 3 месяца назад

    We have had it on a masive scale for 300,000,000 years!

  • @layotheleprechaun
    @layotheleprechaun 2 года назад

    This video is incredibly well made

  • @kimtungate4839
    @kimtungate4839 Год назад

    well done. It is mind-boggling that for decades we have globally allowed single use plastics. Businesses must be taxed for making products that use single use plastics but what would be even better is to ban them completely.

  • @loayalghshm8415
    @loayalghshm8415 Год назад +1

    Well as long as there is a solution and it's cost is reasonable, then governments should ban the use of PET raw materials and use this enzyme. Oh I love biotechnology. Where can I study this? I wanna work them

  • @yourfu73r35
    @yourfu73r35 Год назад

    You got ay new sub thanks you make realy good Videos 💪🏽😎✊🏼

  • @onerimeuse
    @onerimeuse 2 года назад +1

    I see a plastic eating bacteria as a new apocalypse bingo block. What an ironic undoing that would be 😂

  • @KenSDCA
    @KenSDCA 2 года назад +9

    Thanks for this! Clearly, we have to stop polluting and poisoning our environment. Taxing the making of PET's and other plastics has to happen to allow the economics of processes like the one you featured in the video to become the preferred way to produce these bottles and containers.

    • @Henrique-hl3xk
      @Henrique-hl3xk 2 года назад +1

      giving MORE MONEY AND POWER to parasites and bureaucrats will never be a solution to anything

  • @hectorheslop9397
    @hectorheslop9397 2 года назад +1

    The content i"m getting from U-tube, is that the enzymes from worms, fungi and bacteria are involved in the degrading and breakdown of waste plastics. If the enzymes found in all three organisms are not similar, is there a possibility for the enzymes found in either of these three organisms to function successfully in degrading one or more categories or types of plastic wastes.

  • @thegoodshepherdchurch7916
    @thegoodshepherdchurch7916 Год назад

    Sounds fantastic! I am fed up of buying products that say, 'recyclable in some areas'. Full steam ahead I say!

  • @dannyp9537
    @dannyp9537 2 года назад +1

    Hardly anybody would notice a 2 or 3 cent plastic tax per bottle. Use that to subsidise companies that make recyclable plastics. If the subsidy is large enough, they could be contractually obligated to sell the containers at a lower price than non recyclable containers to drive demand. Maybe some of it could be used for further research to lower costs. We might want some third-party oversight as well to ensure that the extra tax dollars are being used properly.
    In Michigan we pay a 10 cent deposit on cans and bottles and no one even thinks about it anymore. A similar structure with plastic containers would even create an incentive for people to return them. It's not uncommon to see people looking through trash or picking up cans and bottles on their walks. Let's be creative. It is a viable solution to a problem for our environment that no one denies.
    We are willing to discuss a carbon tax when there isn't even a viable solution and the problem itself is very contested. An actual solution to an uncontested problem should be a slam dunk.

  • @DeconvertedMan
    @DeconvertedMan 2 года назад +4

    Lets make a thing that eats the plastic - what could possibly go wrong?! *zombies that eat plastic* .... oh.

    • @fillemptytummy
      @fillemptytummy 2 года назад

      Becomes airborne and adapts to eating all plastic in the world.

  • @user-jk8vh3cw2x
    @user-jk8vh3cw2x 2 года назад

    well as a medical student we have a study material of molecularbiology and what you need to do is to finde an organizm that has a wanted characteristic be it bacteria fungus or other like plastic breaking enzymes then you finde the genes that make that enzyme and improve it with genetic engineering to then harvest it for our own uses like how we did with brewing or insulin producing bacteria

  • @mimArmand
    @mimArmand 2 года назад +1

    Absolutely agree, the cost of our environment should not be this cheap, but taxing plastic can have economical disadvantages for the countries/nations who do that, making it more unlikely.

    • @DrBenMiles
      @DrBenMiles  2 года назад +1

      Absolutely, great point 👍

  • @drshuvoo1947
    @drshuvoo1947 2 года назад +2

    Only way to make Recycling profitable world wide is by making vergin pet expensive . It's only possible by reducing use of petroleum in large scale.

  • @thegoodshepherdchurch7916
    @thegoodshepherdchurch7916 Год назад

    There is also a way to help with clothing, look for products made from natural fibres such as organically produced bamboo and wool. Yes more expensive but if we are moving to keeping clothes for longer it can work out as the same as buying cheaply made clothes every season. I buy organically produced natural fibre fabric to make my own clothes.

  • @roshan_ki_pathshala
    @roshan_ki_pathshala 2 года назад

    great i would like to work on this too

  • @darthdaddy6983
    @darthdaddy6983 2 года назад

    Nature : finds way for bacteria to eat plastic
    Humans: let’s separate the plastic & waste

  • @AppleGameification
    @AppleGameification 2 года назад +2

    Is it possible that a very good version of these bacteria might start to impact our daily lives where our plastic appliances and objects are now perishable items?

    • @arislanbekkosnazarov9644
      @arislanbekkosnazarov9644 2 года назад +1

      It might give tools to would be eco terrorist, but I guess those bacterias will be used in controlled environments

    • @LaOwlett
      @LaOwlett 2 года назад +4

      Unlikely. Bacteria don't thrive on dry hard surfaces. It could become a problem for wet and underground applications, but this will eventually happen to any material we use. Some organism will eventually develop a way to utilize an abundant source of energy, and oils and fats (including petroleum) are a very generous energy source.

  • @bradkrit
    @bradkrit Год назад

    Great video, wonder why it has so few likes. RUclips algorithm doesn't like you. Subbed!

  • @MrPawan05
    @MrPawan05 Год назад

    Well, we must genetically engineer the bacteria to produce more enzyme and to have higher reproduction. Once we achieve this, we need to unleash these bacterias across the ocean and landfills - let there be a pandemic of plastic eating microbes. This would be a great favor to mother earth.

  • @heididegrow2595
    @heididegrow2595 2 года назад

    How do we get this for our home compost bins?

  • @trstmeimadctr
    @trstmeimadctr 2 года назад

    Once a more efficient species of this bacteria gets out into the world, wouldn't it basically neutralize some of plastic's most useful properties by allowing it to 'rot' away?

    • @evenoddridge4829
      @evenoddridge4829 2 года назад

      Yes it would and there are many problems it would eventually caused all of which be A. Deserved for our carelessness, and B. Well worth a less polluted world

  • @kubilaypeynircioglu5695
    @kubilaypeynircioglu5695 Год назад

    Do Bacterias devolvep another enzymes to digest all monomers and other types of common plastic

  • @inetivable8188
    @inetivable8188 2 года назад

    Every major dumping ground should have one plant nearby ....

  • @lanceanthony198
    @lanceanthony198 2 года назад

    Can’t necessarily is always!

  • @lordshitpost31
    @lordshitpost31 Год назад

    Thank you for the great video. People should put some real pressure on their governments to tax plastic manufacturers/users so the companies are put to recycle their plastics. I mean nobody gives a flying f. about Coca Cola's profit if the planet is dying and it's just 4 cents, it should be mandatory for them to recycle. Really nice video and enzymes are great really but there's another startup called Poliloop which uses bacteria coctail to actually reduce almost all kinds of plastics to biodegradeable compost material, their process releases CO2 and water vapor. I think you should also look into their model, really promising.

  • @sakthitharan632
    @sakthitharan632 2 года назад

    You should timestamp your video makes it easier to navigate :]

  • @mikegLXIVMM
    @mikegLXIVMM 2 года назад

    This fix the micro plastic problem
    Now they need one for polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene.

  • @jzilla1234
    @jzilla1234 2 года назад

    Are these monomers toxic to humans/ animals if released/ generated in the sea?

    • @DoctorMaya7
      @DoctorMaya7 2 года назад

      It's like me throwing various types of guns in front of you. You may not pick it up straight away, but soon you will. Similarly, bacteria can break everything into atoms, and so they will pick this monomer, RNA and create a new bug like cOVID or worse

    • @jzilla1234
      @jzilla1234 2 года назад +3

      @@DoctorMaya7 why are you pretending to be a "Dr"? that's not how it works. The monomer is not alive. It Cannot turn into a virus spontaneously

  • @detectivetrailer5546
    @detectivetrailer5546 2 года назад +5

    the 3rd solution, while effective, is not very successful. As you said, it has been implemented in some countries but ig the problem with that is that we are very much dependent on plastic, we cannot just let it go. I think educating the population and maybe increasing prices on plastics that are less recyclable. this might encourage people not to just throw away plastic and find ways to reuse them in some form. at least until we find a way to deal with the excessive plastic that is harming the environment.
    this is just my thought. would love to hear more form the others.

    • @DrBenMiles
      @DrBenMiles  2 года назад +3

      Hey, its a great point. I guess the idea is applying that economic pressure encourages looking for other solutions faster (in theory) but I agree, we don't have a great track record in terms of legislative pressure precisely changing the behaviour we are looking to target

    • @deth3021
      @deth3021 2 года назад +1

      @@DrBenMiles so basically punish poor people for the excesses of rich people.

    • @Joe.8671
      @Joe.8671 2 года назад +1

      How about we stop making it!!! And don't try telling me we can't get rid of plastic there wasn't any such thing as plastic in the cowboy days

    • @timesthree5757
      @timesthree5757 2 года назад +1

      Yea I wish people would stop thinking that raising prices works.

    • @richards5855
      @richards5855 Год назад

      @@Joe.8671 the cowboy days didn’t have today’s economy and production chains. Every aspect of your life and supply chain you take and consume goods from relies on plastic to some extent to work the way it does. A chain that spans across every country on the planet, each with their own unique laws and regulations. There is no feasible way to easily remove plastic from our lives anymore.

  • @orginyigam732
    @orginyigam732 2 года назад

    3years back I read an article titled... Scientists make plastic eating worms/bacteria/enzyme.... Something... And here in 2021 we're still discussing how close we are to creating plastic eating bacteria..!?????? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

    • @DrBenMiles
      @DrBenMiles  2 года назад +3

      Disappointing I know. Good rule of thumb is 7-10 years from start of commercialisation activity to discoveries actually being available in the marketplace.

    • @blackpowderkun
      @blackpowderkun 2 года назад +2

      Plastic eating bacteria already exist the researchers just need to figure out how to make them eat faster, make them multiply and make sure it doesn't back fire.

  • @STaSHZILLA420
    @STaSHZILLA420 2 года назад

    Come on Barbie, Let's go party. Nom Nom Nom

  • @vilefly
    @vilefly Год назад

    If we modify our own gut flora to digest plastic, we could eat the container after drinking out of it. Just need flavored plastic, heh. Or maybe modify the dog's gut flora. They are scavengers after all. Fat dogs and no plastic.....it's the future!
    My dog is looking at me sideways, now. Don't judge me, dog.

  • @skoci5159
    @skoci5159 2 года назад

    Eu a să am drumuri din plastic în țara mea și acum ele a să fie mâncate de bacterii?

    • @horsepowermultimedia
      @horsepowermultimedia Год назад

      Get ready to go back to brick roads like in the old days. If the Romans can do that, then we can do that as well.

  • @satejbhave7179
    @satejbhave7179 2 года назад +5

    First Like

  • @DrMaddy101
    @DrMaddy101 2 года назад +2

    Me 3 😁!

  • @detectivetrailer5546
    @detectivetrailer5546 2 года назад +4

    second comment

  • @A_Stereotypical_Guy
    @A_Stereotypical_Guy 2 года назад +1

    I'd say what you call "leveling the playing field" is what I and many others call communism. Vouching and pushing for more and more burdensome and strict regulations has been shown time and time again to be detrimental to the market, sustainability, ingenuity, and overall progress. Truly free unrestricted capitalism is the only solution to pretty much any industrial issue. As well as many many social issues.

    • @latioswarr3785
      @latioswarr3785 2 года назад

      Well tell us how are you going to prevent over production of petrolium

    • @A_Stereotypical_Guy
      @A_Stereotypical_Guy 2 года назад

      @@latioswarr3785 I'm not...nor do I want to. I want as much petroleum produced as humanly possible. More supply equals less cost for average Joe's like us.