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Plastic-eating enzyme could finish what your water filter starts
Researchers found several biodegradable plastics fully broke down in soil within about a year while conventional plastic stayed largely unchanged; the bacteria apparently work for free.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on The Midday ShowPublished
At a glance
- First reported by ScienceDaily: “Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret”.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 12:20 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentScientists found a plastic-eating Pac-Man enzyme, and several biodegradable plastics fully broke down in soil within about a year, while regular plastic barely changed.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBacteria are eating the plastic for free. No invoice, no subscription, just a tiny hungry hero!
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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