E196: How can blue-green algae remove plastics from our water? [SJK Audio Edition]

Read this article at:  or watch at: https://youtu.be/YUJcgeSNXboSummary: Scientists engineered cyanobacteria to remove microplastics and extra nutrients from wastewater.Abstract: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that end up in rivers and oceans. They are hard to remove because they are so small. We wanted a better way to clean them up. We used genetic engineering to change cyanobacteria, a type of algae-like microorganism. We made the cells produce limonene, a natural oily chemical. Limonene made the outside of the cells more water-repellent. Many plastics also repel water. When we put our cyanobacteria in water with microplastics, the plastic stuck to the cells. The cells and plastic formed heavy clumps. The clumps sank to the bottom. We found that our cyanobacteria removed over 91% of the plastic in one hour. We also found a way to turn the leftover cells and plastic into new, useful materials.You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE, no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for us to win grants to fund our mission. We are a small non-profit, and without support, we may not make it.If you enjoy our content, please consider donating - https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/support-us.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com