In a biological laboratory, Professor Yoshida Shosuke, who has long been engaged in the field of plastic decomposing fungi, is leading several researchers to conduct experiments.
Professor Yoshida has conducted very in-depth research in the field of plastic-decomposing fungi and is also a frequent guest in major biological journals. In 2017, he even had a paper published in Science with a fungus that quickly decomposes plastic.
Since the Homo sapiens company has decided to release plastic-decomposing fungi, it will naturally not release them casually.
This big blame cannot be picked up by just any cat or dog. We must find a suitable person to take the blame.
After careful screening, the Field Service Department finally set its sights on Japan, because in this field, Japanese people have indeed done a lot of research and even achieved a lot of results.
For example, Professor Yoshida in front of me has studied a fungus that can quickly decompose plastic. It only needs to be in a humid environment of 29 degrees Celsius in about 6 weeks to decompose a predetermined plastic sample.
He also published this paper in Science.
Professor Yoshida raised his glasses: "There are indeed some differences. I will collect some samples and conduct genetic testing."
Until a week later.
Inside Professor Yoshida's laboratory.
This is a plastic fungus transformed by Li Qingye himself through genetic recombination technology.
After all, if they really research something, they might be able to gain both fame and fortune.
The cockroaches that had completed their mission had disappeared without a trace.
After all, simply relying on the restriction that temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius will breed plastic fungi can suppress the massive spread of plastic fungi in winter in mid- and high-latitude areas.
In fact, the decomposition speed of plastic decomposing bacteria is not as fast as imagined.
This is like a piece of paper and a book. In the same environment, the surface of the book and the paper age at about the same rate, but the paper inside the book ages several times slower.
The cockroaches began spitting liquid into the surrounding plastic pipes. Hidden in the liquid was a fungus similar to the plastic-decomposing fungus discovered by Professor Yoshida.
Professor Yoshida asked strangely: "Isn't this a normal phenomenon? Plastic decomposing bacteria grow mycelium! What's all the fuss about?"
Through an electron microscope, Professor Yoshida saw these "newly mutated" plastic-decomposing bacteria, and their morphology was indeed somewhat different from the bacterial species he had studied before.
Many of the Japanese people who are willing to stay now are those with a better family environment. They are used to growing up in Japan and have no intention of leaving.
In the most suitable environment, the decomposition rate for ordinary polyethylene is 8 months; for natural rubber, the decomposition rate is 34 months; for other types of plastics, the decomposition rate is 10 to 28 months.
Either going to Homo sapiens, or being sucked away by the Far East and America.
At this time, dozens of cockroaches entered the air circulation duct of the laboratory.
Even some Japanese people who have more traditional ideas still think that those who run away are a bunch of trash and traitors.
Considering that the previous variety decomposed plastic too quickly, Li Qingye inserted five specialized suppressor genes again to limit its decomposition ability.
Assistant Xiaochi Yezi hurried in: "Professor, there is something wrong with the laboratory sample."
After arriving at the laboratory, he saw that the insides of the fermentation glass tanks, plastic bottles and plastic bottle caps were all covered with white patches.
"The decomposition speed of samples No. 23 to 34 has changed somewhat, and some white mycelium has grown."
Plastic fungi can only grow in environments above 22 degrees Celsius, with air humidity greater than 50%, and are easily killed by ultraviolet rays. Potassium permanganate and copper hydroxide can inhibit their reproduction.
This situation is actually very normal and unavoidable.
Because many plastic products are not films and plastic bags, but thick tires and the like, fungi can only quickly decompose the surface layer, while the plastic inside will slow down as the thickness increases due to insufficient oxygen and moisture.
.
Then he went straight to the laboratory with his assistant.
At this point, Li Qingye is a little bit kinder, otherwise he could have released the original variety, which would be the real cruelty.
From the beginning, Li Qingye just wanted to eliminate the microplastics that spread into nature. There was still a certain limit to the plastic products currently used in human society.
That is because it is the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Siberian high pressure still controls central and northern Asia, the northwest wind blows from the East Japan, and the Japanese warm current will move towards the Bering Sea and North America.
Chen Jianxiong was overjoyed when he saw it.
The few researchers who stayed behind were secretly thinking that they should work harder this time, hoping that they could follow Professor Yoshida in the last "Science" and make those researchers who left regret their original choice.
But in the tropics, Southeast Asia is home to Homo sapiens, South Asia is home to India, Africa is home to primitive humans, and Latin America is just an economic colony of America.
"Nani? What's wrong?" Professor Yoshida quickly put down the thermos cup in his hand.
He looked at the picture on the computer and muttered to himself: "Is it really a mutant strain? I hope it is a good mutation."
"Hi! Professor!"
Professor Yoshida, who was still immersed in research in the laboratory, did not know at this time that a black pot was flying towards him.
Moreover, choosing Japan as the first release area has another advantage.
Good! Very good! It’s you!
…
The entire laboratory has become very busy because of these newly emerged mutated fungi.
But the plastic fungi they left behind began to spread throughout the laboratory and even the entire Kyoto Institute of Technology along with the air circulation system.
Now Japan's economy is almost in a state of collapse, many laboratory funds have been cut, and many researchers have gone their separate ways.
At this time, the temperature in Japan is rising rapidly. It is approaching March in Japan, and with the blessing of the Japanese warm current, the daytime temperature in Tokyo is actually higher than 22 degrees Celsius.
The diameter of these white patches is about 1 to 3 centimeters, and small hyphae extend around them and are connected to other white patches.
If the temperature and humidity are not suitable for high latitudes, high altitudes, or deserts, the decomposition rate will drop several times or even dozens of times.
Plastic products in these areas have been affected, but the problem is actually not too serious. As for cables and the like, inhibitors can be added to extend their service life.
Xiaochi Yezi hurriedly explained: "But the hyphae morphology of those samples is different from the previous ones."
Inside Professor Yoshida's laboratory.
With temperature restrictions, it is the tropical regions that are most affected.
"Has a natural mutant strain appeared?" Professor Yoshida showed a hint of excitement.
Including Professor Yoshida, they have a lot of property, and neither Sapiens nor America is very attractive to them.
Soon several researchers extracted five samples from several samples and began genetic testing.
But they didn't know that they were not sure whether it would be published in "Science" this time, but it would be no problem to make international headlines.
At this time, plastic-decomposing bacteria had spread from Kyoto Institute of Technology to the entire Tokyo metropolitan area, and were rapidly spreading in all directions along with transport ships and ocean currents.
An unstoppable plastic crisis has begun to countdown.
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