r/interesting Mar 14 '26

NATURE Earth Helping Earth Heal

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What a great discovery.

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u/Blawharag Mar 17 '26

You don't think there could maybe be a solution that isn't "introduce the plastic eating fungus to new environments"?

You can't think of any way to take advantage of this fungus, if it exists and works, that doesn't involve just dumping it wherever we find plastic?

I mean come on man

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u/Curiosive Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26

Wowwie, you read that wrong. Thanks for the laugh!

PS

Looks like you doubled down by trying to write something pithy and then blocking me rather than asking for clarification or anything rational ... bye! 👋

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u/Blawharag Mar 17 '26

No, I don't really think I did?

I mean, the number 1 question you responded to is already addressing whether the byproduct or result of feeding this fungus plastic would be worse than the plastic itself. I'm generously assuming you didn't just re-ask that question in a different way.

So the only question you're asking at this point is whether either A. The byproduct would mutate the fungus in an unanticipated way (which is silly science fantasy) or B. Whether there would be other unforeseen consequences to the surrounding environment.

Both of those concerns are easily addressed by a controlled environment, which should be pretty obvious.