this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
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[–] BudgetBandit@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

There has been found a fungus that evolved to consume microplastics already! https://lamycosphere.com/en-int/blogs/the-futur-is-fungi/plastikfressende-pilze-sind-eine-naturliche-losung-fur-die-umweltverschmutzungskrise?srsltid=AfmBOopXsq1C4V3QswKk2bVz1-Y9NNbbDa5VhLclmQyVl-LkNqrijkvl

And a black one that consumes radiation! They’re working on a way to use that as a self healing radiation shielding in space! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Just keep in mind how close our flesh is to plastic, chemically speaking. Anything that is really good at breaking down hydrocarbons may find us pretty tasty too.

[–] Bloomcole@crazypeople.online 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"keep in mind how close our flesh is to plastic"
Well that was never in my mind.
Monkeys, pigs in some way but I need some source or explanation on this

[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We are comprised of tangled chains of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, with a sprinkle of various others. Plastic is slightly more complex chains, developed from the dead and entombed carcasses of ancient flora and fauna. That entombment process adjusts, but doesn't fundamentally alter the chemistry of those chains.

Estimations indicate that approximately a 21 cm thick layer could significantly deflect the annual amount of radiation received on Mars’ surface.