💚 From Waste to Valuable Resources 🌱
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
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Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
Happy Thursday 👋
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- Plastic-eating bacteria that turn waste into resources 🌱
- A historical First Nation conservation agreement 🤝🏻
- Let’s celebrate the World Science Day for Peace and Development 🧑🔬
- And more… 💚
Imagine a world where the mountains of discarded plastic bottles are not a problem but a resource!
This could be an absolute game-changer. Especially as a staggering 90% of plastic waste currently ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to pollution and climate change.
I’d most definitely continue shopping for plastic-free products.
But I love the prospect of a future free of plastic waste. Or, potentially, even free of virgin plastics at all!
So let’s dive right into it!
🌱 How Plastic-Eating Bacteria Could Turn Waste into Valuable Resources
1️⃣ The big picture: In a remarkable scientific advancement, researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria to transform PET plastic waste directly into adipic acid, a fundamental component for nylon and various commercial products. This process, which converts terephthalic acid derived from industrial PET waste and post-consumer plastic bottles, is carried out by the bacteria within calcified alginate beads. It represents a significant leap towards a circular chemicals economy, where waste is not an endpoint but the beginning of a new product lifecycle.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The ability to upcycle plastic waste into a valuable commodity like adipic acid is a game-changer. This bio-based method is not only sustainable but also operates under mild conditions—room temperature and neutral pH—making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrochemical processes. With a high conversion rate of 79% in just 24 hours, this approach demonstrates the potential for efficient and sustainable waste valorization, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the environmental impact of plastic waste.
3️⃣ What’s next: The success of this study paves the way for further research aimed at enhancing the efficiency of this bio-upcycling process. Future work will focus on process intensification, including cofactor recycling and the optimization of enzyme stability and function. The researchers also plan to scale up the process and extend the biosynthetic pathway to produce other industrially significant chemicals. This pioneering work substantiates the role of microbial biotechnology in creating a circular economy and offers a promising solution to the global challenge of plastic waste.
Related: Check out the Best Charities That Fight to End Plastic Pollution to already make a difference right now!
📢 More Good News…
🤝🏻 B.C., Ottawa, First Nations announce conservation agreement worth $1B:
- Several cabinet ministers and First Nations leaders from both B.C. and Ottawa have agreed on a $500-million commitment to help conserve and protect land, species, and biodiversity in the province.
- The federal government says it’s signed its first major nature agreement with a province and First Nations to mutually protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030.
🌷 Eden Project launches Wildflower Bank to help reverse UK’s nature crisis:
- Cornwall’s famous Eden Project, an education charity, will be unveiling a new company called the Eden Project Wildflower Bank.
- This new company intends to help tackle the biodiversity crisis in the UK by creating wildflower-rich habitats all across the nation and help manage the land for a minimum of 30 years.
- The Wildflower Bank will also create a network of seed hubs to harvest, store and distribute wildflower seed and support nature recovery.
🐦 Dozens of bird names honoring enslavers and racists will be changed:
- Last week on November 1, The American Ornithological Society announced that it will remove and replace the names given to North American birds, starting with the ones whose names trace to enslavers, white supremacists, and robbers of Indigenous graves.
- Instead of honoring these individuals, the mass name-change will focus more on and better describe the appearance and characteristics of the birds.
- Sometime next year, the society is expected to appoint a committee to explore new names for up to 80 species. This amazing act will help reduce racial insensitivity in the ornithology and bird community.
🧑🔬 Event of the Week: World Science Day for Peace and Development
👉 Did you know that tomorrow, November 10, will be World Science Day for Peace and Development? This special day aims to emphasize the role of science and cultivate global trust and peace by ensuring that citizens are kept informed of developments in science.
1️⃣ The big picture: The first World Science Day for Peace and Development was celebrated worldwide on 10 November 2002. Since then, there has been a greater awareness of science and the relationship it has with ethical decision-making among the public. This year’s theme: Building trust in science.
2️⃣ Why is this important: As we’ve seen in recent years, especially after the pandemic, trust in science is a complex issue. The role of science in shaping our collective future can only be fulfilled when there is trust in science and our scientists, who constantly help broaden our understanding of the world. By linking science more closely with society and recognizing the value that scientific knowledge brings us, we can help improve society, promote sustainable development and decision-making, and care for the planet that we all call home.
3️⃣ How can you get involved: As always, one of the best and easiest ways to help make a difference is to simply generate a greater awareness of science and the role it plays in society and our daily lives. This can be done by helping others understand how their daily life benefits from science and sharing this downloadable poster on social media to spread awareness. Additionally, if you’re capable, you can help organize events on how science can foster sustainable development and peace for the general public.
You can check out our resources below to support peace, scientists, and scientific development:
- 9 Best Charities That Promote Global Peace
- 9 Best Charities That Advance STEM Education
- 9 Best Charities That Advance Medical Research
📜 This Week in History
👴🏻 November 9, 1922: Albert Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics. This was mainly due to his explanation of the photoelectric effect.
🙍🏽♀️ November 9, 1923: Alice Coachman was born. Initially, she struggled with racial discrimination and was unable to participate in organized sports and access athletic training facilities. However, she continued to pursue her passion and later became the first African-American woman in the world to win an Olympic gold medal.
⛑ November 9, 1943: The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration was created by a 44-nation agreement. Its mission was to provide relief and assistance to nations that were harmed by World War II and to assist refugees.
💭 Quote of the Week
“I’ve always believed that I could do whatever I set my mind to do.”
― Alice Coachman; American athlete and first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!
Stay impactful 💚
