TNPSC Current affairs April 2017 04 for group 1 & group 2 mains

TNPSC Current affairs April 2017

Plastic Eating Fungus found by Scientists –Aspergullus Tubingensis

Scientist from Chinese Academy of Science have found the fungus which eats plastics which uses enzymes to rapidly break down plastic material and could help deal with the problem of plastic waste.

Aspergullus tubingensis is a fungus which lives in the soil was found by scientist in a rubbish heap in Islamabad, Pakistan

Humans producing greater amount of plastics and most of them goes to garbage. Plastics will not break down like other organic matter and persist in environment for longer period and affects environment  

Various attempts to discard the plastics like burying, incineration,recycling are used but it is costly and ends up with human health issues.

About Aspergullus Tubingensis:

• It is a fungus lives in the soil and scientist found that it also grows in Surface of plastics.
• Aspergullus Tubingensis  secretes enzymes onto the surface of plastic and these enzymes break the chemical bonds between the plastic molecules or polymers,
• Scientist also found  using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, fungus also uses the physical strength of its mycelia, the network of root like filaments grown by fungi to help break apart the polymers.
• The Research is based on the way that other fungi feed on dead plant or animal material