TEDxMtHood
Morgan Vague: These bacteria eat plastic
摩根·薇格: 能吃掉塑料的细菌
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Readability: 5.5
2,001,893 views
人类每年会制造3亿吨塑料——尽管我们很努力，但其中只有10%被回收利用了。是否存在一个更好的方法来处理这些垃圾呢？微生物学家摩根·薇格研究了一种细菌，它们经过一系列适应变化，进化出了一种前所未有的消耗塑料的能力——这能够帮助我们解决日趋增长的污染问题。
Morgan Vague - Senior researcher assistant
Bacteria, bugs, germs -- Morgan Vague loves to get in the dirt (literally) to explore solutions to pressing problems. Full bio
Bacteria, bugs, germs -- Morgan Vague loves to get in the dirt (literally) to explore solutions to pressing problems. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Plastics: you know about them,
you may not love them,
you may not love them,
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塑料——你们了解塑料，
你们也许不喜欢塑料，
你们也许不喜欢塑料，
00:17
but chances are
you use them every single day.
you use them every single day.
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但事实是你们每天都要用到它。
00:22
By 2050, researchers estimate
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据研究人员估计，到2050年，
00:24
that there will be more plastic
in the ocean than fish.
in the ocean than fish.
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海洋中塑料的数量将超过鱼类。
00:29
Despite our best efforts,
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尽管我们非常努力，
00:30
only nine percent of all plastic we use
winds up being recycled.
winds up being recycled.
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我们用过的塑料中
仅有9%被回收利用。
仅有9%被回收利用。
00:37
And even worse,
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更糟糕的是，
00:38
plastic is incredibly tough and durable
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塑料十分牢固，经久耐用，
00:41
and researchers estimate
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据研究人员估计，
可能需要500到5000年，
00:43
that it can take anywhere
from 500 to 5,000 years
from 500 to 5,000 years
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00:47
to fully break down.
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这些塑料才会分解。
它释放有毒化学成分
进入海洋、土壤，
进入海洋、土壤，
00:49
It leaches harmful chemical contaminants
into our oceans, our soil,
into our oceans, our soil,
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00:55
our food, our water, and into us.
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进入我们的食物、我们的水源，
最终被我们吸收。
最终被我们吸收。
01:00
So how did we wind up
with so much plastic waste?
with so much plastic waste?
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那么我们是如何制造出
这么多塑料垃圾的呢？
这么多塑料垃圾的呢？
很简单。
01:04
Well, it's simple.
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01:06
Plastic is cheap, durable,
adaptable, and it's everywhere.
adaptable, and it's everywhere.
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塑料廉价耐用，用处广，
而且到处都是。
而且到处都是。
01:12
But the good news is
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好消息是，
01:14
there's something else that's cheap,
durable, adaptable and everywhere.
durable, adaptable and everywhere.
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还有一样东西，同样廉价耐用，
用处广，而且到处都是。
用处广，而且到处都是。
我的研究表明，
它也许可以帮助我们
它也许可以帮助我们
01:18
And my research shows
it may even be able to help us
it may even be able to help us
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解决塑料污染问题。
01:22
with our plastic pollution problem.
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01:25
I'm talking about bacteria.
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我要说的是细菌。
01:28
Bacteria are microscopic living beings
invisible to the naked eye
invisible to the naked eye
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细菌是肉眼不可见的微生物，
它到处都是，
01:33
that live everywhere,
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01:35
in all sorts of diverse
and extreme environments,
and extreme environments,
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存在于多样和极端的环境中，
存在于人类肠道、土壤和皮肤，
01:38
from the human gut, to soil, to skin,
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存在于温度高达700
华氏度的海底火山口。
华氏度的海底火山口。
01:42
to vents in the ocean floor, reaching
temperatures of 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
temperatures of 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
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细菌无处不在，
01:46
Bacteria live everywhere,
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01:49
in all sorts of diverse
and extreme environments.
and extreme environments.
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存在于多样和极端的环境中。
01:52
And as such, they have to get
pretty creative with their food sources.
pretty creative with their food sources.
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正因如此，它们的
食物来源同样丰富多彩。
食物来源同样丰富多彩。
01:58
There's also a lot of them.
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它们的种类也很丰富。
研究人员估计在地球上
有5百万兆兆——
有5百万兆兆——
02:00
Researchers estimate that there are
roughly five million trillion trillion --
roughly five million trillion trillion --
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5后面有30个零——
的细菌存在。
的细菌存在。
02:05
that's a five with 30 zeros after it --
bacteria on the planet.
bacteria on the planet.
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02:11
Now, considering that we humans produce
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考虑到我们人类每年
02:15
300 million tons of new plastic each year,
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都会生产3亿吨塑料，
我想说我们生产的塑料数量
02:19
I'd say that our plastic numbers
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02:21
are looking pretty
comparable to bacteria's.
comparable to bacteria's.
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和细菌数量有的一拼。
02:25
So, after noticing this
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所以，意识到这点，
以及学习了细菌的
02:28
and after learning
about all of the creative ways
about all of the creative ways
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所有食物来源后，
02:30
that bacteria find food,
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我开始想：
02:32
I started to think:
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02:34
could bacteria in
plastic-polluted environments
plastic-polluted environments
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生活在塑料污染环境下的细菌，
是否进化出了吃塑料的能力呢？
02:37
have figured out
how to use plastic for food?
how to use plastic for food?
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02:42
Well, this is the question that I decided
to pursue a couple of years ago.
to pursue a couple of years ago.
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几年前我决定仔细研究这个问题。
幸运的是，
02:47
Now, fortunately for me,
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02:49
I'm from one of the most
polluted cities in America,
polluted cities in America,
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我出身于美国污染
最严重的城市之一，
最严重的城市之一，
02:52
Houston, Texas.
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德州休斯顿。
02:54
(Laughs)
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（笑声）
仅仅在我家乡，
02:55
In my hometown alone,
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02:56
there are seven EPA-designated
Superfund sites.
Superfund sites.
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就有7所环境保护局指定的
超级基金污染场址。
超级基金污染场址。
03:02
These are sites that are so polluted,
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这些场所的污染之严重，
03:04
that the government has deemed
their cleanup a national priority.
their cleanup a national priority.
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政府甚至将对它们的清洁工作
列为全国优先项目。
列为全国优先项目。
03:10
So I decided to trek around to these sites
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我决定到这些场所去，
03:13
and collect soil samples
teeming with bacteria.
teeming with bacteria.
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收集一些富含细菌的土壤样本。
我开始摆弄一个原型机，
03:16
I started toying with a protocol,
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03:19
which is fancy science talk for a recipe.
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它就等同于科学界的食谱。
我想“烹饪”出的是无碳媒介，
03:22
And what I was trying to cook up
was a carbon-free media,
was a carbon-free media,
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03:26
or a food-free environment.
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或是没有食物的环境。
一个没有常见的碳，
也没有食物的环境，
也没有食物的环境，
03:29
An environment without the usual
carbons, or food,
carbons, or food,
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03:31
that bacteria, like us humans,
need to live.
need to live.
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而细菌，像人类一样，
也需要生存下去。
也需要生存下去。
03:36
Now, in this environment,
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在这个环境中，
我将为细菌提供唯一的碳，
或者可以说食物、资源。
或者可以说食物、资源。
03:37
I would provide my bacteria
with a sole carbon, or food, source.
with a sole carbon, or food, source.
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03:42
I would feed my bacteria
polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene terephthalate,
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我将为它们提供
聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯，
聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯，
也就是俗称的PET塑料。
03:46
or PET plastic.
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03:49
PET plastic is the most widely produced
plastic in the world.
plastic in the world.
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PET塑料是世界上
产量最大的塑料。
产量最大的塑料。
03:54
It's used in all sorts
of food and drink containers,
of food and drink containers,
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它被用于制作所有的
食物和液体容器，
食物和液体容器，
最著名的例子莫过于塑料水瓶，
03:58
with the most notorious example
being plastic water bottles,
being plastic water bottles,
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04:02
of which we humans currently go through
at a rate of one million per minute.
at a rate of one million per minute.
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人类每分钟都要使用
一百万的塑料水瓶。
一百万的塑料水瓶。
04:10
So, what I would be doing,
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我要做的事情，
04:12
is essentially putting my bacteria
on a forced diet of PET plastic
on a forced diet of PET plastic
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是迫使细菌以PET塑料为食，
并且观察是否有细菌能活下来，
或者更进一步，繁荣生长。
或者更进一步，繁荣生长。
04:17
and seeing which, if any,
might survive or, hopefully, thrive.
might survive or, hopefully, thrive.
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04:23
See, this type of experiment
would act as a screen
would act as a screen
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这种实验
能给已经适应塑料污染场所
环境的细菌提供庇护所，
环境的细菌提供庇护所，
04:25
for bacteria that had adapted
to their plastic-polluted environment
to their plastic-polluted environment
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04:29
and evolved the incredibly cool
ability to eat PET plastic.
ability to eat PET plastic.
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并且让它们发展消耗
PET塑料的能力。
PET塑料的能力。
04:35
And using this screen,
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利用这个场所，
04:36
I was able to find some bacteria
that had done just that.
that had done just that.
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我发现了一些已经具备
这种能力的细菌。
这种能力的细菌。
04:41
These bacteria had figured out
how to eat PET plastic.
how to eat PET plastic.
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这些细菌进化出了以
PET塑料为食的能力。
PET塑料为食的能力。
04:48
So how do these bacteria do this?
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那么它们具体是怎么做的呢？
04:51
Well, it's actually pretty simple.
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这其实很简单。
如同人类消化碳或食物，
04:54
Just as we humans digest carbon or food
into chunks of sugar
into chunks of sugar
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04:58
that we then use for energy,
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转化为能量来源葡萄糖那样，
05:00
so too do my bacteria.
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我的细菌也是这么做的。
05:03
My bacteria, however, have figured out
how to do this digestion process
how to do this digestion process
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不同的是，我的细菌进化出了
消化大型、牢固耐用的
PET塑料的方法。
PET塑料的方法。
05:07
to big, tough, durable PET plastic.
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05:12
Now, to do this,
my bacteria use a special version
my bacteria use a special version
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为了达成这点，我的细菌会
利用一个特殊的物品，
利用一个特殊的物品，
叫作酶。
05:15
of what's called an enzyme.
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05:17
Now, enzymes are simply compounds
that exist in all living things.
that exist in all living things.
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酶是一种简单的化合物，
存在于所有生命体中。
存在于所有生命体中。
05:21
There are many different types of enzymes,
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酶有很多种类，
05:23
but basically, they make
processes go forward,
processes go forward,
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但基本上，它们的功能是促进过程，
05:26
such as the digestion of food into energy.
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例如将食物转化为能量的过程。
05:30
For instance, we humans
have an enzyme called an amylase
have an enzyme called an amylase
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举个例子，人体内有一种
叫作淀粉酶的东西，
叫作淀粉酶的东西，
能够帮助我们消化淀粉，如面包，
05:33
that helps us digest
complex starches, such as bread,
complex starches, such as bread,
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05:37
into small chunks of sugar
that we can then use for energy.
that we can then use for energy.
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并转化为小分子葡萄糖，
用以提供能量。
用以提供能量。
05:42
Now, my bacteria have
a special enzyme called a lipase
a special enzyme called a lipase
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我的细菌有一种特殊的酶，
叫作脂肪酶，
叫作脂肪酶，
这种酶能附着在大型
牢固耐用的PET塑料上，
牢固耐用的PET塑料上，
05:45
that binds to big, tough,
durable PET plastic
durable PET plastic
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05:49
and helps break it
into small chunks of sugar
into small chunks of sugar
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并且将它分解成小分子的葡萄糖，
05:52
that my bacteria can then use for energy.
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我的细菌就可以将其作为能量来源。
05:56
So basically,
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基本上，
PET塑料从大型、
牢固而持久的污染，
牢固而持久的污染，
05:57
PET plastic goes from being
a big, tough, long-lasting pollutant
a big, tough, long-lasting pollutant
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06:02
to a tasty meal for my bacteria.
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变成了我的细菌口中的美餐。
06:06
Sounds pretty cool, right?
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听起来很棒，不是吗？
06:10
And I think, given the current scope
of our plastic pollution problem,
of our plastic pollution problem,
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并且我认为，考虑到现在
塑料污染的规模问题，
塑料污染的规模问题，
我认为这听起来非常实用。
06:15
I think it sounds pretty useful.
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06:18
The statistics I shared with you
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那些我分享给你们的
06:20
on just how much plastic waste
has accumulated on our planet
has accumulated on our planet
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关于我们星球上有
多少塑料垃圾的数据
多少塑料垃圾的数据
骇人听闻。
06:24
are daunting.
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06:25
They're scary.
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它们让人感到害怕。
并且我认为它们还指出，
06:27
And I think they highlight
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06:29
that while reducing, reusing
and recycling are important,
and recycling are important,
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尽管减少使用、再次利用
和回收非常重要，
和回收非常重要，
但仅通过这些方法是
不足以解决这个问题的。
不足以解决这个问题的。
06:33
they alone are not going to be enough
to solve this problem.
to solve this problem.
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06:38
And this is where I think bacteria
might be able to help us out.
might be able to help us out.
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我认为细菌也许能够帮助我们。
06:43
But I do understand
why the concept of bacterial help
why the concept of bacterial help
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但我能理解为什么
有些人听到利用细菌会紧张。
06:47
might make some people a little nervous.
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毕竟，如果塑料到处都是，
而这些细菌会吃塑料，
而这些细菌会吃塑料，
06:50
After all, if plastic is everywhere
and these bacteria eat plastic,
and these bacteria eat plastic,
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06:56
isn't there a risk of these bacteria
getting out in the environment
getting out in the environment
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这些细菌会不会流入环境，
06:59
and wreaking havoc?
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造成破坏呢？
07:02
Well, the short answer is no,
and I'll tell you why.
and I'll tell you why.
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答案是否定的，让我来解释给你听。
这些细菌本身就存在于环境中。
07:06
These bacteria are already
in the environment.
in the environment.
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07:10
The bacteria in my research
are not genetically modified frankenbugs.
are not genetically modified frankenbugs.
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我实验中使用的细菌
不是转基因的人造虫。
不是转基因的人造虫。
07:16
These are naturally occurring bacteria
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它们是自然存在的细菌，
只是它们适应了塑料污染的环境，
07:18
that have simply adapted
to their plastic-polluted environment
to their plastic-polluted environment
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07:22
and evolved the incredibly gnarly
ability to eat PET plastic.
ability to eat PET plastic.
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并且进化出了极端而不可思议的
消化塑料的能力。
消化塑料的能力。
07:28
So the process of bacteria eating plastic
is actually a natural one.
is actually a natural one.
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所以细菌消化塑料
事实上是自然的过程。
事实上是自然的过程。
但这个过程非常缓慢。
07:33
But it's an incredibly slow process.
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07:36
And there remains a lot of work to be done
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并且还需要投入大量工作，
07:38
to figure out how to speed up
this process to a useful pace.
this process to a useful pace.
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研究如何加快进程速度，
让它能够发挥作用。
让它能够发挥作用。
07:44
My research is currently
looking at ways of doing this
looking at ways of doing this
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我的研究现在正通过进行
一系列紫外线预处理
一系列紫外线预处理
来寻找这样的方法，
07:46
through a series of UV,
or ultraviolet, pretreatments,
or ultraviolet, pretreatments,
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07:50
which basically means
we blast PET plastic with sunlight.
we blast PET plastic with sunlight.
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这基本上意味着我们将
PET塑料置于阳光暴晒下，
PET塑料置于阳光暴晒下，
07:56
We do this because sunlight
acts a bit like tenderizer on a steak,
acts a bit like tenderizer on a steak,
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我们这么做，就像把肉弄嫩一样，
08:00
turning the big, tough,
durable bonds in PET plastic
durable bonds in PET plastic
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阳光会使得PET塑料中
大块、坚硬耐用的联结软化，
大块、坚硬耐用的联结软化，
08:04
a bit softer and a bit easier
for my bacteria to chew on.
for my bacteria to chew on.
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方便我的细菌进食。
08:10
Ultimately, what my research hopes to do
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最终，我研究的目的，
是为了创造出产业级别的
独立无碳系统，
独立无碳系统，
08:12
is create an industrial-scale
contained carbon-free system,
contained carbon-free system,
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08:17
similar to a compost heap,
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如同肥料堆那样，
在那里，细菌可以在
独立系统中繁荣发展，
独立系统中繁荣发展，
08:19
where these bacteria can thrive
in a contained system,
in a contained system,
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它们的唯一食物是PET塑料垃圾。
08:23
where their sole food source
is PET plastic waste.
is PET plastic waste.
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08:28
Imagine one day being able to dispose
of all of your plastic waste
of all of your plastic waste
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想象有一天，你可以
把你所有的塑料垃圾
把你所有的塑料垃圾
扔进马路边的一个垃圾桶，
08:33
in a bin at the curb
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08:34
that you knew was bound for a dedicated
bacteria-powered plastic waste facility.
bacteria-powered plastic waste facility.
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而你知道这个垃圾桶是专门的
细菌消耗塑料垃圾装置。
细菌消耗塑料垃圾装置。
08:41
I think with some hard work
this is an achievable reality.
this is an achievable reality.
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我认为通过努力，
我们可以实现这个目标。
我们可以实现这个目标。
08:47
Plastic-eating bacteria is not a cure-all.
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以塑料为食的细菌并不能解决一切。
08:50
But given the current statistics,
it's clear that we humans,
it's clear that we humans,
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但考虑到现实状况，很明显我们人类
08:54
we could use a little help
with this problem.
with this problem.
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在这个问题上需要一些帮助。
08:58
Because people,
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因为对于我们人类而言，
08:59
we possess a pressing problem
of plastic pollution.
of plastic pollution.
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塑料污染问题迫在眉睫。
细菌也许能为解决问题
做出很大贡献。
做出很大贡献。
09:03
And bacteria might be
a really important part of the solution.
a really important part of the solution.
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09:07
Thank you.
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谢谢你们。
09:09
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Morgan Vague - Senior researcher assistantBacteria, bugs, germs -- Morgan Vague loves to get in the dirt (literally) to explore solutions to pressing problems.
Why you should listen
Morgan Vague works as a senior research assistant on phase 1 clinical cancer trials, combining her love of scientific research with her passion for healthcare applications. She explore accessible, microbiological solutions to the pollution problems plaguing our planet.
Morgan Vague | Speaker | TED.com