Environment & Mycoremediation

·

Study

Ocean Fungus Breaks Down Polyethylene After UV Exposure

Ocean Fungus Breaks Down Polyethylene After UV Exposure

What they found

Researchers isolated a fungus from ocean plastic that breaks down floating polyethylene once UV light starts the process.

Researchers isolated a fungus from ocean plastic that breaks down floating polyethylene once UV light starts the process.

How solid is it?

Lab dish

Lab dish

In vitro (lab dish)

In vitro (lab dish)

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Compound

polyethylene

polyethylene

Published in

Science of The Total Environment

Science of The Total Environment

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

MUSHROOM MISCELLANY

MUSHROOM MISCELLANY

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Plastic Beach

Plastic Beach

Researchers have isolated a fungus from ocean plastic that can break down floating polyethylene once UV light kick-starts the process.

Researchers have isolated a fungus from ocean plastic that can break down floating polyethylene once UV light kick-starts the process.

Psilocybin for Addiction, Plastic-Eating Fungus, and World's Largest Wildlife Bridge

Read the original study ↗

Get Shroom Scan

Next study

Mushroom Bricks Only as Green as Their Local Power Source ›

Shroom Scan · Every Friday

Get Studies Like This, Translated, Every Week

Ten new studies a week, each boiled down to what it found and why it matters to you. Free, and one click to leave.

See what's inside →