18/09/2025
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Deep in the Amazon, scientists uncovered a fungus called Pestalotiopsis microspora, capable of doing what nature rarely can — digesting plastic. Unlike most microbes, this fungus doesn’t just break plastic into smaller fragments; it fully metabolizes it, turning it into organic matter. Even more astonishing, it can survive in oxygen-free environments, meaning it could one day be deployed in landfills where plastics usually linger for centuries.
The discovery was first made by Yale researchers in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Forest back in 2011, and it has since ignited global interest. If harnessed on a large scale, this fungus could become a natural recycling powerhouse, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical plastic degradation. Imagine bioreactors filled with this fungus, breaking down tons of plastic waste that currently choke oceans and cities — it could be one of the keys to tackling the planet’s plastic crisis.