This new finding may soon cause plastic waste in the ocean to disappear quickly

The undeniable fact is that the oceans now have too much plastic waste, and are all caused by human error.

But luckily, people now recognize their mistakes and are also trying to overcome them. On the one hand, countries are seeking to limit the amount of waste. On the other hand, scientists are looking for solutions to handle the existing waste.

Plastic waste on the ocean is a serious problem for the whole world.

And according to a recent study, the answer may come from an extremely unexpected source. Experts say they have found some species of bacteria that can eat plastic under the sea , allowing the current amount of plastic to "fly" after a time like Thanos after Iron Man's snap.

The study was carried out by experts from Crete Island University of Technology. They want to find out how bacteria accumulate when plastic garbage appears, and participate in the process of plastic resolution. Although this process is really long, scientists believe that we can take advantage of it if we have more knowledge about it.

When the resin reaches the ocean, it will be weathered by a variety of abiotic factors - UV rays, temperature, and the abrasive impact of seawater. They will cause the plastic to gradually break down into smaller, micro and nano-sized pieces. However, these factors need a catalyst.

" Abiotic factors appear and stimulate the biodegradation process, because they create carbonyl groups on the plastic surface. So there will be organisms that exist on them, using carbonyl as a material to continue this process " - quoted Evdokia Syranidou, the study author.

To know the microbial treatment efficiency of microorganisms, the team collected some pieces of plastic waste from PE (polyethylene) and PS (polystyrene) plastic on two beaches in Greece. They cut them into small pieces, then soaked in salt water to simulate the marine environment.

The pieces of plastic are then exposed to two types of bacteria: a natural type from the ocean, and a genetically modified variety that is easier to attach to the plastic surface.

After 5 months, we measured the weight of the plastic pieces and obtained very unexpected results: the group of natural bacteria eroded PS resin to 11%, PE plastic to 7%. Meanwhile, the genetically modified group did not eat much plastic, although the grip was more effective.

The types of bacteria that used to be exposed to plastic before also give the ability to eat better plastic.

And in particular, the types of bacteria that used to be exposed to plastic before also give the ability to eat better plastic.

In fact, this is not the first time that experts have been searching for bacteria that can solve plastic. With each knowledge gained - no matter how small - can help us lay the foundation for a major breakthrough later. For example, combining genomes to help bacteria stick better, thereby helping them to eat plastic effectively at a faster rate.

"Narrowing the gap between hypothesis and reality will help us create more comprehensive and sustainable plastic treatments."

The study is published in Hazardous Materials.

1. How long does it take for plastic waste to decompose?
2. Vietnam is the top 5 countries that discharge most plastic waste into the sea