Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

Yes, folks, Mutant 59 is now real!

Makes sense - plastic waste is ubiquitous. A fundamental rule of nature is that if there's something to eat, then there's something to eat it, or there will be. They do have plenty of it to scoff. Doubtless they'll evolve to expand their food range.

Of course, if these bacteria mutate to eat other plastics, such as, oh, I don't know, electrical insulation (and bacteria are good at mutating), then they really are a real-life Mutant 59...and our plastics-dependent civilisation is in trouble. :erm:

Could be useful...if they're controlled. Dr. Simon Ainslie had the same idea.

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

"oh Jeremy . . "

"yes Cynthia darling, what is it? "

"something appears to be eating our £3.4 million super yacht"

"don't be a silly girl, it's hull is made with 4 layers of indestructible plastic"

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

are they not fiberglass ? and larger ones metal ?

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

no idea Jaymoss, you're probably correct though.

anyway, give that bacteria another few months to mutate and see how many frogmen survive . . not to mention the 'surgically enhanced' females that like a swim :D

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

Fiberglass is a form of plastic. :)

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

The resin that holds the fibreglass together is a plastic.

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

Exactly, take that away and its just a few flimsy fibres, your boat sinks ... ;)

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

a big yacht would be metal according to google

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

Wonder if they'll eat the undersea cables used for the internet, I assume they're covered in plastic insulation?

Re: Plastic-eating bacteria discovered in the ocean
 

By the time those microbes get round to eating undersea internet cables, there will probably be nothing left on the internet that people are allowed to view . . with or without a VPN :D