吃塑膠的細菌
2,374,812 views | 摩根•韋格 • TEDxMtHood
人類每年生產 3 億噸的新塑膠,然而即使盡了最大的努力,只有不到 10% 被真正回收。是否有更好的處理這類垃圾的方法?微生物學家摩根•韋格透過一個創意的研究方式,讓細菌發展出吞噬塑膠的能力,這或許可以幫忙人類解決愈來愈龐大的塑膠汙染問題。
人類每年生產 3 億噸的新塑膠,然而即使盡了最大的努力,只有不到 10% 被真正回收。是否有更好的處理這類垃圾的方法?微生物學家摩根•韋格透過一個創意的研究方式,讓細菌發展出吞噬塑膠的能力,這或許可以幫忙人類解決愈來愈龐大的塑膠汙染問題。
This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxMtHood, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about TEDx.Learn more about the research on PET plastic degradation, conducted by Dr. Jay Mellies at Reed College.
About the speaker
Bacteria, bugs, germs -- Morgan Vague loves to get in the dirt (literally) to explore solutions to pressing problems.
National Geographic | Explore
"Planet or Plastic?"
"Planet or Plastic?" is National Geographic’s multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic trash crisis. Come to this page often to learn more, find out what you can do to reduce your own single-use plastics and take your pledge.
Shosuke Yoshida, et al. | Science, 2016 | Article
"A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate)"
After reading about the sheer scope of plastic waste on the planet and learning that only an estimated 9-10 percent of all plastic waste is recycled, I wanted to do something. I took Dr. Jay Mellies's microbiology class and realized that bacteria could do some incredible metabolic gymnastics, which made me wonder whether bacteria could indeed degrade a complex, inert material like plastic. I researched the topic and found several papers showing that this was indeed possible. This paper by Yoshida et al., and the below paper by Yang et al., were my main inspirations and guides for this project, as they provide detailed experimental outlines, potential metabolic pathways and evidence that bacteria from polluted or plastic-inundated environments could indeed degrade plastic.
Yang J., et al. | Science, 2014 | Article
"Evidence of polyethylene biodegradation by bacterial strains from the guts of plastic-eating waxworms"
This paper was another inspiration for this project.
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4Ocean
Consider looking into companies such as 4Ocean that use reclaimed plastic to sell bracelets that raise awareness of and funds to combat plastic pollution.
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Ubuntoo
Also consider looking into Ubuntoo, an organization that highlights companies working to create products to promote plastic sustainability projects and reclaimed plastic products.
About TEDx
TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.
This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxMtHood, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about TEDx.Learn more about the research on PET plastic degradation, conducted by Dr. Jay Mellies at Reed College.