"Bioengineered Bacteria Produce Multipurpose Spider Silk from Plastic"

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have engineered bacteria that can convert polyethylene plastic into a biodegradable spider silk with various applications, such as textiles, cosmetics, and medicine. The bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, naturally consume polyethylene as a food source and were engineered to produce a high-value protein product resembling spider silk. This innovation could help "upcycle" plastic waste and contribute to a future with renewable resources and reduced plastic pollution.