The smallest solution to one of our biggest problems

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The smallest solution to one of our biggest problems - Tierney Thys & Christian Sardet

Рет қаралды 453,936

Күн бұрын

Explore the possibility of plastivores- organisms that can eat and break down plastic- helping reduce the plastic waste on Earth.
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Each year humanity produces roughly 400 million tons of plastic, 80% of which is discarded as trash. Of that plastic waste, only one-tenth is recycled. 60% gets incinerated or goes into the landfills, and 30% leaks out into the environment. Fortunately, there are microbes that may be able to take a bite out of this growing problem. Tierney Thys and Christian Sardet explore the future of recycling.
Lesson by Tierney Thys and Christian Sardet, directed by Elsa Esteban.
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev, Nicole Klau Ibarra, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Petr Vacek, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Kari Teffeau, Cindy Lai, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Iryna Panasiuk, Aaron Torres, Eric Braun, Sonja Worzewski, Michael Clement, Adam Berry, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, isolwi, Kate Sem, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Minh Quan Dinh, Sylvain, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Abdullah Abdulaziz, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez and Brian A. Dunn.

Пікірлер: 500

@notRealCapedBaldy 2 жыл бұрын

These Japanese scientists deserve the Nobel Prize. Solving these plastic issues represents a significant breakthrough.

@221b_Bakerstreet 2 жыл бұрын

Nobel r often given to the inventions that have more future potential than it seems to have today. More like a key to a series of future inventions that thereby result in greatest benefit on mankind. On that ground you're right Saitama, they deserve a Nobel.

@roadwarrior528 2 жыл бұрын

Nah, give another one to Obama instead.

@thesexybatman263 2 жыл бұрын

That's why I always help Mother Nature by eating my daily dose of microplastics.

@aahkari 2 жыл бұрын

💀💀

@dread69420 2 жыл бұрын

👀👀

@DBT1007 2 жыл бұрын

That.. Funny but also sad because it's the reality of our world these days. U think you're free from microplastics, people? Think again. How about plastic particles in your drink. In your food from plastic packaging too. Also dont forget the fine tiny plastic particles in the air. Also.. If you sniff or breath close to clothes or bag or shoes made from polyester or polyethylene or something like that, that also produces microplastics. u can find "plastic fashion" often in the school and sports equipment and stuff. those jerseys made from plastics. also the shoes n backpack.

@idontknowok5632 2 жыл бұрын

Thats great! Keep it up.🙂

@Madverdrive 2 жыл бұрын

Hol up

@5599MIchael 2 жыл бұрын

When we say 10% of wasted plastics are recycled, it makes it sounds like an average person does not do a good job recycling, but, it may be due to the fact that some plastic products are inherently not recyclable, such as plastic wrap/bags, electronics, and smaller plastics imbedded into textiles such as clothes and furniture. While it's important to push ourselves to recycle and live a sustainable lifestyle, I think it's also important to stop large scale producers to make certain things in the first place that don't need to be made. 400 million tons of plastic produced per year sure sounds awful

@gabriellamcfield5472 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! You hit it right on the nose. While the average person/consumer has an environmental responsibility, it is large corporations who create the most waste in the name of cutting costs and increasing their profits. I think therefore that the main environmental responsibility of consumers right now is to pressure corporations to change their practices. They should buy as many eco-friendly products as possible and (casually) boycott harmful traditional ones as best as they can. They should also push for laws against excessive waste. And they should also push to get corporate money out of politics! Many proposals intended to decrease the amount of waste corporations produce have been struck down because corporations pay to advertise against them or pay politicians to vote against them.

@wendig00n 2 жыл бұрын

@@gabriellamcfield5472 Revolt against the Machine

@lindabooker3512 2 жыл бұрын

Gabriella McField I agree. However, it’s like trying to get politicians to agree on reasonable gun rights.

@xXSpamMeNotXx 2 жыл бұрын

It’s also because the rest of the world doesn’t have infrastructure to handle recycling on a large scale.

@bruhbruh5621 2 жыл бұрын

@InfoChannelOfficial 2 жыл бұрын

It's absolutely mind-boggling when you think that these microbes, which are at such a small scale, can make a huge difference in the world--whether it be good or bad. It's hard to wrap my mind around, but certainly a topic worth to contemplate!

@aguyontheinternet8436 2 жыл бұрын

Well there are a lot of them

@genericscout5408 2 жыл бұрын

if they ever became widespread it'd be as bad as any apocalypse. If it's something that's confined to specific small zones it might not cause planes to blow up and crash or cars to catch on fire randomly.

@vogeline_ 2 жыл бұрын

@@genericscout5408 but only if these things are made of pet. If pet would start decaying it'll mean we'll stop producing it, wich would mean that barely anything even changed. Its up to us to make a difference.

@akanksha9901 2 жыл бұрын

YOU GUYS WIIL NOT BELIEVE THIS . I did a project on saving the oceans , and i researched about this bacteria to help me put forward my idea . This bacteria made me win first prize in those competitions . If this bacteria actually starts getting used , its going to be a huge success

@Badbitchica 2 жыл бұрын

That's great! and yes, those plastivores are the boon of our prevailing biosphere. Until now, there have been some methods to discard micro-plastic but not so efficient and eco-friendly and in conclusion, this might be our only resort.

@hitmanekoyslnp8572 2 жыл бұрын

Share a link to a doc or blog about itM

@dabeastle7116 2 жыл бұрын

Poggers my guy

@lovelyseeker89 2 жыл бұрын

Do you ever think if this got produced more they can eat while city plastic

@vogeline_ 2 жыл бұрын

What if the bacteria starts decaying plastic that's still used? Won't the people who produce plastic stop making plastic that can decay this easily?

@cringingyukino3282 2 жыл бұрын

Genetic engineering is such a good concept. You may question its ethicality but at the end of the day, it is objectively great IF done right.

@LuddyFish_ 2 жыл бұрын

Very much so. I remember my biology class having a debate whether it was ethically right to modify baby genes. We discussed if we should even modify genes at all, even if we could remove a gene that causes a baby to live no longer than a year. Or should we be able to modify genes so that all future generations can run as fast as Usain Bolt. Science is neutral. It is only good or bad by the intentions of the user.

@lordbanetheplayer8844 2 жыл бұрын

@@LuddyFish_ It is like magic.

@relaxwithhanzo5446 2 жыл бұрын

@@LuddyFish_ i really want to create microorganisms that can eat all of the thrashes that we have made

@thalassaer4137 2 жыл бұрын

@@relaxwithhanzo5446 i wanna make ones that itll only a certain race-

@halalaccount3918 2 жыл бұрын

Yep IF DONE RIGHT

@okokoka 2 жыл бұрын

This is exactly what i studying now. We try to characterize and isolate them (the microbes) from polluted freshwater. I suggest there will be many research studies about the microbes that could degrade many type of microplastics. Hopefully we can use them as a sollution of water pollution in the future.

@green-green-grass 2 жыл бұрын

Goodness! Same xD

@landinobin4835 2 жыл бұрын

If plastic degrading microbes become very common, will they obsolete plastic? We use plastic for packaging and to make items that should last long without degrading.

@leht1617 2 жыл бұрын

it's good to know that there's still hope to improve our life and utilize these for the environment

@medardbitangimana4580 2 жыл бұрын

Can we take a moment to appreciate the creativity of the animators🙌🏾

@ashcoates3168 2 жыл бұрын

It’s so cool but also terrifying that we can engineer biology to do our bidding and help save the planet

@Gebri3l 2 жыл бұрын

This whole universe is playground for humans to do as we please. Keeping good and bad in mind

@wendig00n 2 жыл бұрын

@@Gebri3l good philosophy to follow!

@Odood19 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah imagine if they bio-engineered something to PRODUCE plastics and then they got out. That could be a sci fi horror movie

@catdogmousecheese 2 жыл бұрын

Actually, humans have been manipulating the DNA of other life forms for tens of thousands of years through methods like selective breeding and cross pollination. For example, chickens weren't always flightless, but over thousands of years of selective breeding chickens eventually lost the ability to fly. Corn is another example; there's no such thing as wild corn because corn stalks can't scatter their seeds without the aid of humans.

@Odood19 2 жыл бұрын

@@catdogmousecheese Yeah there is so much fear mongering related to genetic modification/engineering and biotech. But would we be willing to give up our dogs? How about wheat that doesn't drop its seeds? I wouldn't think so. I for one am glad that people figured out how to manipulate life forms to our benefit. Where would we be without domesticated cereal grain? Probably dying in caves by age 20.

@tekken4granted913 2 жыл бұрын

Hearing Addison's voice in new TED-Ed content is a blessing 😇

@robertbosch99 2 жыл бұрын

As a chemistry student, the amount of giddyness I gained from this knowledge when I first read about it is unimaginable.

@rachelventure5424 2 жыл бұрын

The end of the world is going to be the sound of one guy in a lab saying "heh heh, it worked" - Jon Stewart

@iamgreatalwaysgreat8209 2 жыл бұрын

I dont think its good idea to bio engineer virus/microbes to eat plastic, it could severely back fire and cause plastic epidemic, plastic is good only because of its pertainess.

@joanhoffman3702 2 жыл бұрын

😳😳😳😳😳

@geo3106 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine if the polyethylene could eventually be degraded to ethanol and used for sanitisers using fermentation or assisted by it. Or something of the sort.

@teodorcornea7014 2 жыл бұрын

Or for drinking!

@DBT1007 2 жыл бұрын

That for big plastic. How about microplastics? That's hard thing

@rustyshackle917 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine holding the plastics industry responsible for the environmental disaster they've created.

@aguyontheinternet8436 2 жыл бұрын

@@teodorcornea7014 Delicious pure ethanol

@DBT1007 2 жыл бұрын

@@rustyshackle917 also imagine having more than 2 children. Or even 10 children. You're actively destroying environment faster because each human have needs. We all need metal, wood, minerals, plants, energy, job, and also produces waste. Even if you're vegan, u still need wood. U actively destroying things.

@AmiraKrim 2 жыл бұрын

Ted-Ed, thank you for existing 😭❤️

@mushmush4980 2 жыл бұрын

The only thing that worries me about microbes breaking down plastics at normal temperatures is that it makes it easy to break down plastic in places it really shouldn't be, i.e. everyday technology

@kennyloong90 2 жыл бұрын

back to square one invent plastic that cant be break down for eg. electrical insulator etc

@winzyl9546 2 жыл бұрын

As long as you dont dip your phone in dirt for long periods of time

@ethanomcbride 2 жыл бұрын

We desperately need to tax the plastics industry to fund programs that will 1) Research PE/PP consuming enzymes, 2) Research plastic replacement materials, and 3) programs to collect and bio-degrade all existing PET waste

@billysbees 2 жыл бұрын

congrats TED-Ed team. you Never stop to amaze me . this one is one of your Best videos Ever! Thank you for your creations I'm gladly digesting it Right now

@jbanders2358 2 жыл бұрын

By “we” , you realize it’s Corporations who decide what materials are used for their products. The same corporations who’ve bought and paid the politicians that pass the laws that further destroy this amazing planet 🌍

@RMProjects785 4 ай бұрын

Do corporations just pollute for fun? Who's buying from these companies to allow them to continue these practices?

@DuongThuy-dy4nw Жыл бұрын

I used this video to complete my thesis on plastic waste

@cyrilmathew4136 2 жыл бұрын

A question: Once scientists are able to engineer a microbe able to effectively degrade plastics fast, what happens next? What is going to prevent these same microbes from spreading and eating food packaging, medicine/drug packaging and packaging for other perishable stuff? In such a scenario what do we do? Go back to glass packaging?

@ayaanmohammad6645 2 жыл бұрын

Well, as they mentioned at the end, we need to change what plastics we use or even if we use them at all.

@angus2862 2 жыл бұрын

We already have biodegradable packaging...

@aminulhussain2277 2 жыл бұрын

What happens next is that plastic now rots.

@Juandro97 2 жыл бұрын

We wouldn't be using the microbes themselves. As mentioned in the video, we use these microbes to produce large quantities of the plastic degrading enzymes. Unlike the microbes, enzymes don't spread or reproduce, they eventually just stop functioning.

@hatchling88 2 жыл бұрын

It's amazing to contemplate, I know, but plastics are quite new.... we got along without them for centuries. Practical substitutes already exist and must be encouraged, with plastics discouraged. Taxes, regulation, incentives, rules... whatever is appropriate, needs to be used to force plastics out of manufacturing and packaging. Consumer education is helpful, but when plastics are EVERYWHERE, we can only do so much as there are few alternatives and plastics are cheap. So, yes, producers need to be encouraged to use readily recycled packaging like paper, aluminum and glass. We can do our part by purchasing and using re-usables or biodegradable produces. For just one example, don't buy plastic cups, buy paper. Don't buy your soda in plastic bottles, chose aluminum or glass... both are non-toxic and readily recyclable.

@nasalnex 2 жыл бұрын

This is by far my favourite animation style of TEDEd's videos!

@sketchyskies8531 2 жыл бұрын

I really like the music in this

@bizzy5108 2 жыл бұрын

Same lol 😂

@katherineknapp4370 2 жыл бұрын

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the motto I live by in my everyday life. I love this planet and everyone and everything on it, so I try my best to keep it going for as long as the LORD allows.

@juliboi08 2 жыл бұрын

Can't wait to see this apply in real world. It would be a game changer. Kudos to all who are part of this study

@Ninjaeule97 2 жыл бұрын

I know that there are insects that can bite through PE and PP and I read that they have MOs (microorganisms) in them that can brake down the small PE and PP pieces into for the insect harmless substances. I believe it was only a Wikipedia article, but maybe we should look into that.

@suspatrick 2 жыл бұрын

I hope this knowledge is applied in elementary school, because we need this as a general knowledge #saveearth

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

Save people.

@winzyl9546 2 жыл бұрын

Then what? What exactly do you expect elementary kids to do about this?

@hatchling88 2 жыл бұрын

Using microbes to "eat" plastic might backfire as the long term results are unknown. They hold promise and should be carefully studied prior to losing them in the environment. It's truly better to stop using so many plastics, especially single use. What did we use for disposables before plastics? Biodegradable materials like paper, wood, cloth, plant and animal byproducts. We also used, still do, perpetually re-usable materials like actual china, glass and metal utensils, dishware and servers. Stores sold items in degradable packaging made from cardboard and paper. We didn't have all our purchases handed over in plastic bags... they were placed in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or we brought our own bags and baskets. We've become so lazy and complacent... people can't even be bothered to bring their own grocery totes from the car. I don't like excessive regulations or government rules, but something must encourage or force people and businesses to change their ways.

@shivamwasp 2 жыл бұрын

Ted-ed, do a video on how car engines work (if you haven't already) and difference between electric and gas cars

@rizkifauzi7048 2 жыл бұрын

will this evolve into Zurk?

@kuitaranheatmorus9932 2 жыл бұрын

Everyday I learn more from this channel and that's awesome

@cosmonaut2684 2 жыл бұрын

This video has one of the best Ted-ed animacion ever made

@educlarity 2 жыл бұрын

The real question is, are these microbes gonna have nil or minimal impact on the ecosystem if we introduce them to the soil? (Like, not altering the natural beneficial microflora in a particular environment where it's gonna be introduced)

@ImperialEarthEmpire Жыл бұрын

Oh great, now we gonna have an underground city full of robots with one stray cat running around solving things...

@ukiyo5612 2 жыл бұрын

A small step for a microbe, a giant leap for mankind 💚

@zirepedecaamtreaba 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, private enterprise, free markets, profit reason & capitalism.

@tommer9621 2 жыл бұрын

fine, i'll eat it.

@invurret9533 2 жыл бұрын

Isn't this what created the Zurgs in Stray?

@galaxy-412 2 жыл бұрын

i have a science project and we chose this topic... this was spectacular timing. Thank you TED-Ed

@GaasubaMeskhenet 2 жыл бұрын

i'm glad this science is progressing slowly. I'm not ready for hospitals to need to deal with plastic eating mold outbreaks

@aaryanairy756 2 жыл бұрын

3:03 Microbe Pacman!!!!!!

@Urmo14 2 жыл бұрын

All marine life depends on us to clean the ocean and engineer new ways to clean it up.

@BienvenidoAlHoloceno 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video!

@spiderplant 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Though I believe it would be beneficial to also discuss evolution of plastic-eating processes in comparison to the evolution and decomposition of wood, which for millions of years after its first appearance, was also like plastic in that nothing could really eat it or break it down. Even now, very few organisms actually can destroy or digest it, and they still do so rather slowly, but they do so steadily and at low temperatures. Even though you and I would have to heat wood up to hundreds of degrees to degrade it quickly, AKA burn it, you don't NEED those temperatures if you're willing to be patient.

@alparslankorkmaz2964 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video.

@ashinmohemmed9260 2 жыл бұрын

I didnt know plastic under wears exist

@TheChadPad 2 жыл бұрын

You know those stretchy "athletic" boxers? Those are plastic

@borjadetorres7747 2 жыл бұрын

Fascinating what we can do. Either way, I must say, we are not killing our planet, just ourselves. The planet and life will survive us by a long shot, and in a couple million years there won’t be a trace of us ever existing. But life will persist.

@RMProjects785 4 ай бұрын

bs. We'll live for billions of years onwards

@user-ul9mz3me5x 2 жыл бұрын

People with Plastic surgeries: Sweats nervously*

@Hackerminde2-su9wb Жыл бұрын

- Well, when these bacterias become too many what will we do? What if they will interfere with production? How can people control them? Video is great.

@Meethejarate 10 ай бұрын

What I think about it: Bacteria probably won’t be enough to actually destroy enough plastic to make tons of change We shouldn’t really be creating plastic in the first place We can probably control and destroy bacteria that are in plastic plants

@trisha4551 2 жыл бұрын

Ah if only big corporations and government would listen to scientists...

@furonwarrior 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, even if they did, we wouldn’t be able to produce a lot of the products we have today without plastics. We could eliminate most single use plastic and some items such as plastic tooth brushes and cleaning detergent jugs with water. Corporations could help fund research to find and culture microbes to eliminate the micro and nano plastics. It would also allow them to produce more products too as there is less guilt among consumers and local governments. But realistically, humanity is going to kill itself. It’s just a matter of how much time can we buy before the quality of life no longer becomes worth living. Enjoy the moment while we have it.

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

Yea they listens to scientists and got people caged in their homes and injected with poison. I think the scientists need to shut up for a long time.

@Vesta32 2 жыл бұрын

Whatever we do or harm mother nature but it fights back and finds a way to heal itself.

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

OK pagan

@cophead9984 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ted Ed crew

@seanemery1917 Жыл бұрын

Life finds a way

@jorampodcast 2 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of the movie "The Graduate" when plastic technology was all the rage.

@jamesnordblom855 2 жыл бұрын

I can hardly wait for these to escape into our cities and homes. They will, you know.

@Jensenrobinb Жыл бұрын

for the ones that will never be edible to microbes, i guess we could make diatoms that use microplastics instead of silica and they’ll be bioluminescent so we could grab them to remove plastic

@ancientwestonian 2 жыл бұрын

What kind of biproduct is produced by microbes eating PET? Do they poop? Do they grow and reproduce? What happens when the plymer is "digested"?

@nonamesleft136 2 жыл бұрын

What happens when they die? Do they get eaten?

@erikteutloff2183 2 жыл бұрын

@@nonamesleft136 @ancientwestonian PET gets degraded into its monomers of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. On whether or not they poop... that depends on your definition, I guess. If your breathing out carbon dioxide counts as pooping, then yes. As bacteria are living organisms, they do indeed grow and multiply. Bacteria can do this asexually through a process called mitosis, where a "parental" cell splits into two "daughter" cells after having doubled its genetic information (so it can give one copy to each of its "daughter" cells). Usually, when bacteria die, their either killed by a predator, like an amoeba, eaten by a bigger organism and digested in their stomach acid, or because of environmental factors, like acidity/osmolarity (too much/little salt)/starvation/toxins/etc. In the last case, some can form spores to endure the conditions and start growing again later when conditions have improved. Other bacteria that do not have this ability will die, and their cell wall and membrane will degrade (called lysis). Whatever little nutrients it has will be released into the environment, where it will probably be a nutrient source for other microbes.

@sidhaarthnair8368 2 жыл бұрын

When these bacteria evolve to breakdown any kind of plastic quickly then in the future,a new problem of keeping plastic items safe from these microbe will arise

@Meethejarate 10 ай бұрын

Plastic is bad in the first place, we shouldn’t be planning to make more

@NullNoxproduction 2 жыл бұрын

Nature always pick up the slack of humanity, I am not surprised nature fixed our problem. 💯❤️👏🏿 Love the video as always.

@thesenseiclub 2 жыл бұрын

excellent - two cents on such an important matter

@figo3554 2 жыл бұрын

Mirciplastics really do taste great.

@gunasekar431 2 жыл бұрын

A ray of hope

@quadrantids8166 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome animation and amazing narration as usual TED Ed!!!

@vihangathathsara1073 2 жыл бұрын

indeed

@annapurnamehra898 2 жыл бұрын

Anyone else just watch these videos only for the soothing voice?

@limerence8365 2 жыл бұрын

1:24 The plastic ring can only be destroyed in one place. In the fires once used to forge it.

@smitpatel1461 2 жыл бұрын

Mass produced plastics in 1950s, within the span of 70 years we have identified how bad plastics can be and have started taking measures like banning and finding solutions to degrade them. This PACE of progress is extremely fast compared to our human timeline. Humanity's future is very bright.

@Mizai 2 жыл бұрын

2:21 the way these fish died

@bongobongo3661 2 жыл бұрын

Can't believe we still can't find microbes that break down peepees

@bindu654 2 жыл бұрын

Really useful information 👍

@lepyroshark1940 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know a huge amount about this topic or anything, but from what I do know, the problem is that plastics are cheap and easily produced, so producers don't have much a reason to change. You would think literally saving the planet would be a good motivator change, but unfortunately, money is usually a better one, and what they're doing now is bringing in a reliable source of money and change might affect that. I don't want to get political (because I don't know politics lol), but that just seems to be a pretty common theme from what I've noticed.

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

Why is plastics being cheap a problem? Do you want poor people to spend more?

@eris9062 2 жыл бұрын

@@johnharrison7585 That's not at all what they're saying, and nice virtue signalling by the way. No, what they're saying is that the issue is the lack of cheap alternatives to plastic, which incentivises companies to use plastic due to their cheap cost, so to help reduce the amount of plastic produced a cheap environmentally friendly alternative is needed.

@lepyroshark1940 2 жыл бұрын

@@eris9062 Thank you, you said it better than I could have. As someone who has faced the threat of losing many luxuries due to financial problems, I absolutely don't think it's bad that it's cheap. Like Eris said, the problem is that there's no real safe alternative, and so we're stuck with a product that just causes more and more environmental damage.

@doladi2774 2 жыл бұрын

another great video

@dayo_0X1 2 жыл бұрын

This is soooo cool!

@earllouie2137 2 жыл бұрын

Or we go without plastic, there was a time when that was ok. Glass and metal is basically 100% ♻️

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

Yes why not increase prices for the poor?

@karldumoran8327 2 жыл бұрын

*starts fading away*

@klinikinfo69 2 жыл бұрын

RESPECT FROM INDONESIA...

@stephenlee5929 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds great. Have we all read 1970's SFI, Mutant 59, or watched BBC Doomwatch also from the '70's? How much damage will this do when it escapes into the wild?

@SocialNomad 2 жыл бұрын

Am I the only one that's scared that these kinda bacteria can seriously ruin the kind of plastic we DON'T want to be degraded?

@ManojKumar-dw6fm 2 жыл бұрын

Manh! The animation is really cool

@xfatal_hdx251 Жыл бұрын

Now if our government we're so serious about resolving the plastic crisis they'd spend money on this type of research.

@freedomofspeech2867 2 жыл бұрын

How do you know they won't spread out into the wild and destroy the ecosystem?

@trelligan42 2 жыл бұрын

"Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters" by Kit Pedler & Gerry Davis

@johnharrison7585 2 жыл бұрын

They're betting on it

@travelwell6049 2 жыл бұрын

1) Why can't the Plastivores eat the plastic at cooler temperatures? 2) When the Plastivores have eaten and digested the plastic, what do they poop out?

@rohateanonis4657 2 жыл бұрын

Ok these are insanely good questions

@aminulhussain2277 2 жыл бұрын

At lower temperatures it's slow. And they're broken down into smaller hydrocarbons.

@ebossnz6838 2 жыл бұрын

Mother nature's all ready doing it

@anirudhanirudh1419 2 жыл бұрын

I have heard a news that scientists have discovered new such microbes from mangroves of wester Indian coastline. I don't know if it's true or not. Would have loved if I can get a reply.

@kbee225 2 жыл бұрын

PET is PolyEthylene Terephthalate. Didn't expect TED to make such a mistake.

@GD-poppy-ZY2ii 2 жыл бұрын

@jaimepujol5507 2 жыл бұрын

But of course there's a catch: part of the usefulness of plastics is their durability. Maybe in a few years we start finding that bacteria are eating all our stuff

@TheChadPad 2 жыл бұрын

I am not a fan of government limiting the freedom of individuals, just look at the abortion debacle that we have now in the US, but limiting the freedom of corporations is where government is needed. We need to limit the usage of plastic to those only where necessary, and government needs to help fund the transition to manufacturing with other materials. We used to have plenty of good materials for doing the same things. We need to transition back to those

@bd1982 2 жыл бұрын

very informative

@adrianchriste6 2 жыл бұрын

Fungi! Please start looking into the fungi industry to replace plastic!!

@eduentertainment5219 2 жыл бұрын

Good day, 👍 Great Videos! 😃 Well researched. Do you all have research and videos dealing with what is alzimers and how to improve or slow down the process?

@kirbymarchbarcena 2 жыл бұрын

Now that we have these bacteriums or whatever you call it, time to learn more of the benefits and disadvantages.

@ly1278 2 жыл бұрын

Let us all around the world help eachother and reduce pollution in all possible ways even if it is simple

@1111MeditationPortal 2 жыл бұрын

There is hope. We can all do our part in saving mother earth "Gaia".

@stephanc6138 2 жыл бұрын

there goes the immortality of certain projects using plastic (recycled or otherwise). eg. uses plastic in undersea cables cause it lasts ... or used to. 😆

@chelseahenderson7333 4 ай бұрын

Anybody else feel this is a horrible idea? If we make a future full of room temperate plastic eating microbes. We will loose the miracle that is plastic. food storage, water storage, emergency medical supply's, fuel take liners the pipes that supply water to millions will be at risk of eroding away.

@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome channel with awesome content and great quality as always say 🌍💯

@FlyingDwarfman Жыл бұрын

I'd heard about this potential breakthrough before and my one big follow-up question about these microbial plastivores is, "What by-products do they emit/ create from breaking down PET?" It seems like a logical guess that they might emit a greenhouse gas or oxygen. PET, like all polymers (including all plastics), is a chain of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (specifically C10H8O4). If it were broken down into carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4), that could have even further severe effects on the oceans and atmosphere -- adding yet another layer into just how bad continued heavy use of plastics is bad (as currently, all of that potential CO, CO2 and/ or CH4 that could further warm the atmosphere is "locked" in these plastics).

@cinemartin3530 2 жыл бұрын

The amount of plastic produced and the size of the mountains of plastic waste in numerous landfills exceed all reasonable limits. Greedy and selfish producers do not think about anything except their own benefits. As well as consumers, too, who, after drinking their juice in a plastic bottle bought with their money, thereby encouraging the manufacturer, simply throw it out of the first bush. I am scared at the thought that my descendants are more likely to live among mountains of plastic waste and I am very pleased to hear that work is slowly underway on its high-quality disposal and the search for new methods, including with the help of bacteria. It's time to give up this stuff altogether, but greedy businessmen are unlikely to allow this.

@tobybrown1179 2 жыл бұрын

Plastic contamination in kerbside recycling of green waste into compost is astronomical and the product is continuing to be ruined FOGO ( food organic garden organic) Will be a marvellous day when the microbes can be added in to clean up this wonderful product

@todayzhong830 2 жыл бұрын

SAVE NATURE WHOS WITH ME

@agakor 2 жыл бұрын

I say let nature find it's way. It has done it for millions of years and it will probably continue to do so for untill the end of the life of our star.