Plastic Eating Fungi? with Biodegradation Researcher Dr. Amira Samat

Описание: What if “forever plastic” didn’t have to last forever?

In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Amira Samat, a biologist whose research challenges one of the world’s most stubborn assumptions: that polypropylene, one of our most common plastics, can never truly break down.

Polypropylene is everywhere: pill bottles, takeout containers, carpets, furniture, cars, medical tools. It’s durable, cheap, and efficient… which is exactly why it’s become a global environmental crisis.

But while scientists have long believed polypropylene was essentially indestructible, Amira discovered something remarkable: a natural combination of fungi and bacteria that can break it down significantly in months, not centuries.

This wasn’t supposed to be possible. And yet… here we are.

This conversation dives into:
How Amira discovered plastic-eating microorganisms
The science behind biodegradation (made simple)
Why this breakthrough could reshape ocean cleanup

Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:58 - What Polypropylene Is and Why It’s Hard to Break Down
5:20 - The “Impossible” Discovery Moment
8:05 - How the Plastic Degradation Experiment Works
21:32 - Scaling the Process from Lab to Real World
23:48 - Closing Reflections

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About Not Impossible Labs:

Not Impossible Labs is a multi-award-winning innovation lab and production company on a mission to create technology for the sake of humanity. Founded by Mick Ebeling, Not Impossible tackles seemingly impossible challenges - from creating eye-tracking devices for ALS patients to 3D-printing prosthetic arms in war zones. Our philosophy: Help One, Help Many.

Learn more: https://www.notimpossible.com