介绍:
New plastic-eating bacteria could help save planet
polyethylene / ,pɑlɪ'ɛθəlin / n. 聚乙烯
mealworm / 'milwɝm / n. 粉虱；面粉中的甲虫之幼虫
enzyme / 'ɛnzaɪm / n. 酶 TEM4
hydrolyze / 'haɪdrə,laɪz / v. 水解
clog /klɑg/ v. 阻塞；障碍 n. 障碍；木底鞋 CET6
Scientists in Japan have discovered a strain of bacteria that can eat plastic, a finding that might help solve the world's fast-growing plastic pollution problem.
The species fully breaks down one of the most common kinds of plastic called Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It's the type often used to package bottled drinks, cosmetics and household cleaners.
Styrofoam-eating mealworms might help reduce plastic waste, study finds. The findings, published in the academic journal 'Science', say that "this bacteri breaks down the plastic by using two enzymes to hydrolyze PET and a primary reaction intermediate, eventually yielding basic building blocks for growth."
This could be really good news for the environment. Almost a third of all plastic packaging escapes collection systems and ends up in nature or clogging up infrastructure, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned.
