this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2024
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Scientists Find Plastic-Eating Fungus Feasting on Great Pacific Garbage Patch (futurism.com)
submitted 5 months ago by Espiritdescali@futurology.today to c/futurology@futurology.today
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[–] towerful@programming.dev 39 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Can't wait for the pandemic of plastic eating fungus infecting the human race and living on the micro plastic in our testicles.
Or, like, all medical tools becoming impossible to package and ship cause of this fungus.

[–] JayTreeman@fedia.io 7 points 5 months ago

Or just spreading outside of the garbage patch and getting into a city. Suddenly everywhere there's plastic coated electric wiring becomes a fire hazard.

[–] finley@lemm.ee 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Maybe just the second one. Or neither.

[–] Umbrias@beehaw.org 3 points 5 months ago

Almost definitely neither.

[–] Tyfud@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

It can survive in salt water, but probably not our bloodstream when we're making antibodies

[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 2 points 5 months ago

I've heard the reason hot blooded animals evolved is because they're resistant to fungal infections unlike cold blooded animals

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

P. album is capable of mineralizating UV-treated polyethylene (PE) into CO2.

Well, FUCK!

[–] Draedron@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

First I was like "that sounds really good actually" but turning it into CO2 probably isnt good news

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

Might it be better than sticking around is plastic for thousands of years? I don't know.

[–] PixelTron@lemm.ee 5 points 5 months ago

“Life finds a way” 😎