19/06/2025
SvampNytt
A fungus was found that turns plastic into food — and it works in complete darkness
In a lab beneath the University of Sydney, researchers have isolated a fungus from an old garbage dump that does something miraculous — it eats plastic and turns it into edible fungal biomass. No light, no additives, no fancy treatment. Just fungi, plastic, and patience.
This strain, called Aspergillus terreus, doesn’t just degrade plastic. It consumes it completely and transforms it into protein-rich material that could be used for food or animal feed. Scientists left it in sealed dark chambers filled with plastic — and the fungus thrived.
What makes this even more surprising is the speed. Traditional plastic-eating microbes take months or years to make a dent. This fungus works in under 140 days and doesn’t require sunlight or oxygen. That makes it ideal for sealed environments, from landfills to underground bioreactors.
This breakthrough could radically alter waste management. Imagine turning plastic waste into usable food supplements on submarines, space stations, or remote military outposts. Or simply cleaning up oceans and landfills while generating high-protein biomass.
Of course, it’s early. Large-scale bioconversion is still being tested, and safety standards need time to catch up. But for the first time, plastic is not just trash — it’s feedstock.
The planet’s waste crisis might be answered by a mushroom growing in the dark.
