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Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

phys.org

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Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#101

Post by hx8 »

userbinator wrote: post #95
hx8 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perfect is the enemy of good. Plastic and Microplastics are an environmental hazard to animal life, with a specific threat to aquatic life. The plastic itself is a significant physical hazard for the life. The attached link has an incredible photo of a the scale of a small fish and various microplastics. It's important to note that currently there is no cost effective way for water treatment plants to filter for thes…

From your own link: Scientists are still unsure whether consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal health Because plastics are inert. Beware those who distort the truth and exploit fear for their own gains.

"The number of published studies considering the effects of microplastic particles on aquatic organisms is considerable. In aquatic invertebrates, microplastics cause a decline in feeding behavior and fertility, slow down larval growth and development, increase oxygen consumption, and stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species. In fish, the microplastics may cause structural damage to the intestine, liver, gills, and brain, while affecting metabolic balance, behavior, and fertility; the degree of these harmful effects depends on the particle sizes and doses, as well as the exposure parameters."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9205308/

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#102

Post by in_vestor »

whatshisface wrote: post #96
readyplayernull wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plastic aren't simply plastics, they have lots of additives to give them different properties. Incinerating is transforming these additives into other chemicals maybe making more toxic molecules escape to the environment in ashes, dust, smoke. And landfilling is storing trash for future generations to solve the problem.

Future generations will never have a reason to dig up landfills.

The most plausible reason they might need to dig them up is to remediate them. Landfills require maintenance in perpetuity, which costs a considerable amount of money. The biggest expense is maintaining the top cap—if it leaks, big problems can result.

After several centuries, it’s hard to imagine that most landfills will still be doing regular maintenance and fighting off entropy maintaining the cap. At some point, with the right technology, it becomes more sensible to reprocess the waste in a more permanent manner.

I think plasma gasification is likely the best idea, but it still needs work.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#103

Post by userbinator »

hx8 wrote: post #101
userbinator wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From your own link: Scientists are still unsure whether consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal health Because plastics are inert. Beware those who distort the truth and exploit fear for their own gains.

"The number of published studies considering the effects of microplastic particles on aquatic organisms is considerable. In aquatic invertebrates, microplastics cause a decline in feeding behavior and fertility, slow down larval growth and development, increase oxygen consumption, and stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species. In fish, the microplastics may cause structural damage to the intestine, liver, g…

The additives include inert or reinforcing fillers which endow the plastic with specific properties: plasticizers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, lubricants, dyes, and flame retardants

Do they really think plasticizers are inert, or more so than the plastics themselves?

I'm sure you can find plenty of studies that say cellphone radiation is harmful too.

The LK-99 debacle is still recent; and it showed just how much the bulk of published "science" can't be farther from the truth when there are other motivations.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#104

Post by reactordev »

in_vestor wrote: post #102
whatshisface wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Future generations will never have a reason to dig up landfills.

The most plausible reason they might need to dig them up is to remediate them. Landfills require maintenance in perpetuity, which costs a considerable amount of money. The biggest expense is maintaining the top cap—if it leaks, big problems can result. After several centuries, it’s hard to imagine that most landfills will still be doing regular maintenance and fighting off entropy maintaining the cap. At some point,…

I would agree. Burying our post-nuclear family waste worldwide for the last 60 years will come back to haunt us. I also agree that we’ll have the tech to address it then into a more sustainable solution and possibly extract energy from it.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#105

Post by skybrian »

reactordev wrote: post #104
in_vestor wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most plausible reason they might need to dig them up is to remediate them. Landfills require maintenance in perpetuity, which costs a considerable amount of money. The biggest expense is maintaining the top cap—if it leaks, big problems can result. After several centuries, it’s hard to imagine that most landfills will still be doing regular maintenance and fighting off entropy maintaining the cap. At some point,…

I would agree. Burying our post-nuclear family waste worldwide for the last 60 years will come back to haunt us. I also agree that we’ll have the tech to address it then into a more sustainable solution and possibly extract energy from it.

This is not how haunting works. We won’t be around anymore. We will haunt whoever is there after us.

Maybe they’ll have better enzymes, though.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#106

Post by jryle70 »

userbinator wrote: post #100
autoexec wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It was never about precision, truth, nor actual science. It was always about "plastics=bad" ideological virtue signaling Microplastics were not a concept created for ideological virtue signaling. I don't know who manipulated you into thinking that was true, but you may wish to re-evaluate where you've been getting your information. The good news is that you don't have to depend on some invented sinister backstory f…

Regardless what the origin was, it should be clear to see that the term has become associated with ideological virtue signaling and used to promote all manner of junk science and taken up by the engagement-chasing paranoia-spreading media.

You said:

> It was never about precision, truth, nor actual science

Now you know that is false. You choose to believe it anyway. Contemplate that for a moment.

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#108

Post by DrThunder »

tabtab wrote: post #57
DrThunder wrote: post #14

How do you keep something like this from spreading and deteriorating plastics in things you don't want it to?

GOP: "Oh shit, Hunter's laptop is now a pile of goo! What are we going to rant about all day now?"

[dead]

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#109

Post by permo-w »

bee_rider wrote: post #71
yakubin wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But we don’t, instead we peel oranges and then sell them in plastic containers at the grocery store. Someone is selling peeled oranges? O.o How long until they sell peeled apples?

Maybe not anymore, but Wholefoods gave it a try, there was a bit of mockery. In general I think the idea that our food is over-processed and over-packaged is not a new complaint, haha.

in the UK in the "meal deal" section of supermarkets, you can find peeled anything in a little plastic box

Re: Scientists create artificial protein that can degrade PET plastics in bottles

#110

Post by reactordev »

skybrian wrote: post #105
reactordev wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would agree. Burying our post-nuclear family waste worldwide for the last 60 years will come back to haunt us. I also agree that we’ll have the tech to address it then into a more sustainable solution and possibly extract energy from it.

This is not how haunting works. We won’t be around anymore. We will haunt whoever is there after us. Maybe they’ll have better enzymes, though.

it's a figure of speech, not literal. There are no ghosts.
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