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Teen Discovers Plastic-Decomposing Bacteria

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the here-comes-the-study-claiming-it-causes-cancer dept.

ganelo writes to tell us that 16-year-old Waterloo Collegiate Institute student Danel Burd has made quite a stir with his plastic-eating bacteria discovery. For his efforts Burd won top prize at a Canada-wide science fair claiming a $10,000 prize and a $20,000 scholarship. "Tests to identify the strains found strain two was Sphingomonas bacteria and the helper was Pseudomonas. A researcher in Ireland has found Pseudomonas is capable of degrading polystyrene, but as far as Burd and his teacher Mark Menhennet know -- and they've looked -- Burd's research on polyethelene plastic bags is a first."

9 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. hey I know by ILuvRamen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You know what would be cool is instead of just saying ooh I wonder if it eats plastic too and finding out it does, though that's definitely stll amazing...put some bacteria that are at least close to maybe being able to eat X substance and put it on the surface of that substance and blast them with regular, mild radiation every day until some mutate until a colony mutates and starts eating the rubber/plastic/whatever. I've heard very little about forcing mutations randomly to try and get a given result but it seems like a good idea to me. I mean if this kid had found that the bacteria couldn't eat plastic, I doubt anyone would have given him the funding and stuff to try and alter them so they do. And yes, before anyone posts it, keep the test area damn well sealed too so supergerms don't get out (duh!).

    --
    Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
    1. Re:hey I know by wizardforce · · Score: 5, Interesting

      a similar technique to what you describe has already been used to generate a strain of bacteria capable of cleaning coal of various hydrocarbons. the basic idea is that you can breed bacteria and put a selective pressure on them while slowly changing the chemical environment they live in. in the case of coal, you start with oil digesting bacteria and slowly acclimate them to larger quantities of hydrocarbons typically found in the presence of coal while lowering the concentration of the original "oil" hydrocarbons. it is my understanding that the process I am referring to has been patented although I do not believe that radiation/mutagens were used in the breeding process. so in principle your idea, though not new, would/does work and is being used to some extent.

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      Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
    2. Re:hey I know by skirmish666 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This reminds me of that episode of sliders where a bacteria created to eat plastic waste escapes and eats the worlds petrochemical supply.

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      Sigger than your average
  2. The mishap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, the bacteria was introduced after the teen discovered the cure for cancer in a plastic dish; however, before the cure could be analyzed in order to replicate it, the bacteria ate the dish and the cure. The Associated Press quoted the boy saying "God damnnit!"

  3. Absolutely Beautiful by Walter+Wart · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It was kitchen table science done by himself with no budget, no grant and no assistants. You aren't supposed to be able to do Real Science(tm) like that anymore. So how did the kid do it?
    1. He thought a of a simple problem that hadn't been solved
    2. He investigated the obvious avenues first
    3. He used the resources at his disposal instead of trying
    4. He chose something where success and failure would both be easy to demonstrate
    This was really good science. If he keeps it up look for his name with the words "Full Professor" in front and a list of patents afterwards some time soon.
    --
    The man who never alters his opinion is like the stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the Mind -- William Blake
    1. Re:Absolutely Beautiful by David+Gerard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Chance favours the prepared mind" - Louis Pasteur.

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      http://rocknerd.co.uk
  4. That's pretty neat, kiddo... by syd02 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "...you came up with an answer to 29 million tons of non-biodegradeable plastic being added to landfills each year, so here's 10 grand. Yep, 10 big ones. Oh, and go get yourself a bit of education."

  5. Unintended consequences by Starvingboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't help but wonder about untindended consequences. Looking around at all the plastics, having them inadventantly eaten by bacteria would be a BAD thing.

  6. Re:Proof of evolution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yet another hammer in the coffin for the nuts who want to deny reality.
    You are hereby sentence to listen to Simon and Garfunkel's El Condor Pasa while donating your time to Habitat for Humanity till you learn the difference between a hammer and a nail.