PhDs have been searching for a solution to the plastic waste problem, and this 16 year old finds the answer.
It's not your average science fair when the 16-year-old winner manages to solve a global waste crisis. But such was the case at last month's May's Canadian Science Fair in Waterloo, Ontario, where Daniel Burd, a high school student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, presented his research on microorganisms that can rapidly biodegrade plastic.
NOTE: there are TWO high school students who discovered plastic-consuming microorganisms. The first was Daniel Burd (last year). The second was Tseng I-Ching (last month), a high school student in Taiwan.
Daniel had a thought it seems even the most esteemed PhDs hadn't considered. Plastic, one of the most indestructible of manufactured materials, does in fact eventually decompose. It takes 1,000 years but decompose it does, which means there must be microorganisms out there to do the decomposing.
Could those microorganisms be bred to do the job faster?
That was Daniel's question which he put to the test by a very simple and clever process of immersing ground plastic in a yeast solution that encourages microbial growth, and then isolating the most productive organisms.
The preliminary results were encouraging, so he kept at it, selecting out the most effective strains and interbreeding them. After several weeks of tweaking and optimizing temperatures Burd was achieved a 43 % degradation of plastic in six weeks, an almost inconceivable accomplishment.
With 500 billion plastic bags manufactured each year and a Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch that grows more expansive by the day, a low cost and nontoxic method for degrading plastic is the stuff of environmentalists' dreams and, I would hazard a guess, a pretty good start-up company as well.
NOTE: to the comment below. Yes there are certainly methods for decomposing plastic, but most are chemical in nature not organic, requiring high temperatures and chemical additives to cause the plasticizers to vaporize, for instance this patent on PVC extraction. There have been several successful bacteria based solutions developed at the Dept. of Biotechnology in Tottori, Japan as well as the Dept. of Microbiology at the National University of Ireland, but both apply only to styrene compounds.
It goes without saying that these discoveries need to be tested to ensure, for instance, that the bi-products of organic decomposition are not carcinogenic (as in the case with mammalian metabolism of styrene and benzene). The processing of plastics by these methods would also have to be contained in highly controlled environments. So, no, we're not talking about a magic panacea or a plastic-free paradise, but the innovative application of microorganisms to break down our most troublesome waste products is nevertheless a major scientific breakthrough.
ANOTHER NOTE: One of our readers pointed out a very interesting study in 2004 at the University of Wisconsin that isolated a fungus capable of biodegrading phenol-formaldehyde polymers previously thought to be non-biodegradable. Phenol polymers are produced at an annual rate of 2.2 million metric tons per year in the United States for many industrial and commercial applications including durable plastics.
How much is your soul worth?
Written by Flip
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Latvian firm accepts souls as a guarantee for credits.
A financial company in Latvia is offering residents loans secured by nothing but their immortal soul. Riga-based firm, named Kontora, does not require credit history record or proof of employment. It grants loans of 50 to 500 Latvian lats ($100 to $1,000) to any adult after he or she signs the a very short agreement. According to the agreement, the only security required of the borrower is their immortal soul, which they are asked to confirm as their previously unmortgaged property. The loan is subject to one percent per day in interest until full repayment. The period of full repayment is 90 days, and in case the borrower fails to return the money, the creditor gets full possession of his soul.
Ohhh Yeah!!!
Written by Ryan Breezy
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Here is a throwback video of the Macho Man showing his sensitive side. Elizabeth..... Elizabeth.... Such an epic time.
COTW
Written by Flip
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
This weeks cover of the week is "Tell Me", an original song done by Groove Theory.
I'm back with another cheap date, this time it's Jamba Juice with a Buy-1 Smoothie-Get-1 Free. The trick of all cheap dates is to make sure you don't get caught slippin' while you're giving the server/waiter the coupon. When it comes to Jamba Juice, it can get a little difficult not getting caught. I recommend you tell your date to find a table or a place to seat while you order the smoothies and hand the man the coupon. Not only will you not get caught, but you'll have a place to sit. Go [here] to print out your coupon. Gyea.
The Grind Date
Written by Capo
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Free Maxim Subscription
Written by Capo
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Sony is hooking everyone up with a Free 1-year subscription to Maxim Magazine and I am here to spread the love. Go [here] and fill out all the info and use this code: YSON as your voucher. Gyea.
Turntable TV Tuesday: DJ Quest
Written by Capo
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
We're going across the Atlantic and heading over to the U.K. for this week's 3T. DJ Quest, the video showcases one of his 2003 Technics Wolrd DMC Champisonship sets. Crazy beat juggling.
Breezy Radio Monday presents: NUMP
Written by Ryan Breezy
Monday, 29 June 2009
The good folks at Breezy Radio brings another hella crackin' Monday. Today, we have our homie, Nump in the building. He will be getting high as a jetplane while sharing some of his new joints & answering some questions. Also we will have ATE Clothing in the house. We are getting faded as always. All fun, no games. Breezy Radio is gonna be poppin' like always. Accompanied audio pleasure will be provided by our resident DJ's Eternal / BBOY Drift / Almazing / Distrakt / Grubber/ B-Strut. Brought to you by Gyrex Breezy and hosted by Mikey B. Tune in LIVE today from 6-9 pm. Gyea.
Check out Breezy Radio on USTREAM. We now stream live video while were in the mix & have it playing all week. Feel free to join our chat and say whats up to The Breezy Bunch.
