Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret

Plastic pollution is one of the world's most persistent environmental problems. Vast amounts of discarded plastic accumulate in the oceans, sometimes forming enormous garbage patches that threaten marine life. Most conventional plastics break down extremely slowly because microorganisms struggle to digest the synthetic polymers from which they are made. Instead of disappearing, these materials gradually fragment into increasingly smaller particles, including microplastics and nanoplastics.

Yet plastic waste is not completely beyond the reach of nature. Bacteria and other microorganisms can colonize its surfaces, forming communities known as biofilms. These communities create a distinctive microbial ecosystem that scientists call the "plastisphere."