Issue 66 - November 2020

Could Plastic-Eating, Silk-Producing Bacteria Be a New Ally in the Fight Against Waste?

NSF grant supports exploration of potentially transformative idea

Each year tens of millions of tons of plastic are sent to landfills, while another 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean. It’s an exponential problem that requires an environmentally friendly solution. In order to vastly improve the Earth’s health, that waste needs to be broken down for reuse, but determining how to do this effectively and efficiently has been a persistent challenge.

With the support of a new National Science Foundation grant, a team of engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will explore a potentially transformative idea: genetically engineering a microorganism that “eats” petroleum-based plastic waste and converts it to a biodegradable plastic alternative.

“We have all of this plastic pollution in the environment that comes from all of this plastic that we use on a daily basis, most of which is based on petroleum feedstocks, which are based on molecules that can’t degrade naturally in the environment,” said Helen Zha, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at Rensselaer, who is leading this research project.

Zha and her collaborators will explore whether a genetically engineered bacteria would be capable of breaking down petroleum-based plastic waste that could then be used as energy to produce artificial silk, a biodegradable protein that can behave much like traditional plastic.

“The use of metabolic engineering approaches for plastic waste degradation and its conversion to higher value chemicals such as biopolymers is an underexplored area of research,” said Mattheos Koffas, a professor of chemical and biological engineering who has previously established a number of microbially-based processes and now joins Zha in this research. “Our collaborative effort will provide more sustainable and environmentally friendly methods and materials.”

A current barrier to using silk as a replacement for traditional plastic, Zha said, is that it’s hard to produce from nature in large quantities. Designing and creating a new bacteria that can manufacture artificial silk could be a valuable solution.

“At some point, we as a society should be transitioning to using plastics that not only come from non-petroleum-based sources, but can also be completely degraded into something that goes into the natural environment,” Zha said.

“How to optimize the molecular architecture and microstructure of artificial silk is a fascinating design problem that nature has perfected over hundreds of millions of years, yet we have just started to piece clues together,” said Yunfeng Shi, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, and another collaborator on this grant.

This unique challenge requires a cross-disciplinary approach, bringing engineers together from across departments. It’s the type of collaboration that encapsulates The New Polytechnic, the spirit with which research and education are tackled at Rensselaer.

“This forward-thinking, innovative idea is exactly the type of environmentally friendly and sustainable solution CBIS faculty are focused on developing,” said Deepak Vashishth, the director of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) at Rensselaer, of which Zha and Koffas are members.

The Rensselaer team is also partnering with Guohong Mao, the associate director of Conagen, a biosynthesis and biomanufacturing company.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and over 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.

Related Topics:ocean conservation OceanNews plastic pollution

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America’s Marine Sanctuaries: A Photographic Exploration

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation partnered with Smithsonian Books to release this coffee table-style book to bring the wonders of our national marine sanctuaries to your fingertips. America’s Marine Sanctuaries take you on an intimate and immersive journey to explore the rich history, iconic wildlife, and vibrant habitats that make sanctuaries so special and worthy of protection.

America’s Marine Sanctuaries is a tribute to the ocean’s incredible ecosystems and landscapes, from kelp forests to deep sea canyons. The fourteen underwater gems that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System are celebrated for their beauty, history, and importance. Featuring a foreword by actress and activist Sigourney Weaver, the book serves as a gorgeous reminder of what’s at stake in our efforts to conserve the world’s most critical and beautiful environments.

An extraordinary illustrated overview of the National Marine Sanctuary System and a guide to its fourteen protected underwater locations. America’s Marine Sanctuaries tells the story of fourteen underwater places so important they are under special protection, together forming the US National Marine Sanctuary System.

These sanctuaries, spanning more than 620,000 square miles and ranging from the Florida Keys to the Great Lakes and to the Hawaiian Islands, are critical and breathtaking marine habitats that provide homes to endangered and threatened species. They also preserve America’s rich maritime heritage and act as living laboratories for science, research, education, and conservation, offering outdoor recreation experiences for all ages.

Through 175 full-colour photographs and lively narrative, America’s Marine Sanctuaries showcases each of the marine sanctuaries and the creatures that live there, from whales and manatees to Hawaiian monk seals and Laysan ducks, as well as sunken ships from the Ghost Fleet and USS Monitor to Shipwreck Alley. The book underscores how marine sanctuaries have shaped the nation’s development, survival, and identity, and celebrates these protected underwater treasures for all they can tell us about our communities, our country, and our world.

Issue 66 - November 2020

#BeTheWave Against Climate Change

All over the world, young activists are claiming their right to a safe, sustainable planet.

The European Union shares their concerns and their aspirations, and has taken unprecedented initiatives to stop climate change. But policy alone can’t head off global warming: for those set to inherit the damage, it isn’t enough to watch and hope. They know that thinking global means acting local. This idea is at the core of the #BeTheWave social media campaign.

Through everyday climate-positive actions, young citizens are contributing to a better future. The European External Action Service (EEAS) wants to harness the power of these efforts by making sure these activists are heard.

The campaign is not only about raising awareness: it is a call to action. It is a chance for young people from around the world to protect their planet. By inspiring their peers, participants will trigger a global ripple effect. Even the smallest effort can create a big impact.

#BeTheWave is a simple, interactive, and socially driven way to show how small actions can lead to big changes.

The EU is at the forefront of the global fight against climate change.
The Green Deal is the EU’s strategy for making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
The EU is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to keep the global temperature rise well below 2.0 C this century, and is striving to keep it below 1.50 C in line with the Paris Agreement.
This year the UN will be 75 years old. The EU wants to mark the anniversary by celebrating the efforts of Millennials and GenZs who want to see the UN’s goals realised.

By leveraging the power of social media, the EEAS aims at empowering everyday activists to inspire and support one another to live climate-positive lives.

#BeTheWave not only heeds the voices of those calling for a fairer, cleaner, and a healthier planet, it amplifies them.

#BeTheWave is driven by young activists and influencers with a shared commitment to fighting climate change. The EEAS has designed this social media campaign to support their work.

On 21 September 2020, influencers from all corners of the globe will begin the #BeTheWave challenge and set off a ripple of climate-positive behaviours.

With tens of thousands of followers, some of these influencers have the potential to set change in motion on a huge scale.

1. Challenge

Influencers from across the globe will take on their #BeTheWave climate challenge.

Each challenge will be a fun, easily replicable action. Many will be environmentally friendly habits for activists to integrate into their everyday lives. It could be something as simple as unplugging unused phone chargers, coming up with ways to use leftovers, or planting flowers to help bees. The point is – it will be something that shows how easy it is to make a difference, and the more people rise to the challenge, the greater the difference will be.

The challenges will be shared by influencers with a specially designed #BeTheWave Instagram filter.

2. Sharing

Activists and influencers will document themselves performing their #BeTheWave climate challenge, sharing photos and videos of their experience using the #BeTheWave filter. In doing so, they will inspire their followers to think about how daily actions affect the climate.

3. Send out the call

Next, the influencers will call on their followers to take up the #BeTheWave challenge.

4. Let the ripple begin

When a follower joins the campaign, they too will document their climate challenge, share it via Instagram, and challenge their own friends and followers to #BeTheWave.

With each story, young climate-conscious people will be given the power to spread change and prove that they can make a difference.

The campaign is a perfect way to empower every activist to inspire others – turning a ripple, into a wave.

LEARN MORE

#BeTheWave Campaign
European Green Deal and EU climate action
Tips for everyday climate action
Our planet, our future – online magazine for young people
European Climate Pact

Issue 66 - November 2020

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – November 2020 – Issue 66

Feature Destination: 13 Amazing Places to visit in Albania

Albania, a small and undiscovered country, is the perfect place to come and visit the beautiful natural landscapes. If you want to discover some breathtaking views here is a list of the places that must be travelled. Read more…