New solution for plastic pollution

Each year, the world produces about 440 million tons of plastic waste. Unlike natural materials like paper and wood, which biodegrade (break down) quickly and mix with soil, plastic can take hundreds of years to break down. Now a group of scientists at the University of Sydney, in Australia, have found a way to break down plastic using fungi. Fungi are a group of plant-like organisms, including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. The scientists focused on two types, called Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, which are often found in soil. “Fungi are incredibly versatile and are known to be able to break down pretty much all [surfaces],” said Dee Carter, an author of the study. This “superpower,” as Carter called it, made the researchers curious about whether fungi could help break…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 164

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