TEDxMtHood
Morgan Vague: These bacteria eat plastic
摩根•韋格: 吃塑膠的細菌
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人類每年生產 3 億噸的新塑膠，然而即使盡了最大的努力，只有不到 10% 被真正回收。是否有更好的處理這類垃圾的方法？微生物學家摩根•韋格透過一個創意的研究方式，讓細菌發展出吞噬塑膠的能力，這或許可以幫忙人類解決愈來愈龐大的塑膠汙染問題。
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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塑膠製品：你很清楚
這個東西，可能不是很愛，
這個東西，可能不是很愛，
00:17
but chances are
you use them every single day.
you use them every single day.
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可是你每天的生活卻少不了它。
00:22
By 2050, researchers estimate
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研究人員估計，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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海洋中的塑膠數量
將遠遠超過魚量。
將遠遠超過魚量。
00:29
Despite our best efforts,
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儘管已經盡了最大努力，
00:30
only nine percent of all plastic we use
winds up being recycled.
winds up being recycled.
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我們使用過的塑膠只有
9% 真的有被回收。
9% 真的有被回收。
00:37
And even worse,
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更糟的是，
00:38
plastic is incredibly tough and durable
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塑膠是如比的堅固耐用，
00:41
and researchers estimate
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研究人員表示
00:43
that it can take anywhere
from 500 to 5,000 years
from 500 to 5,000 years
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它需要五百至五千年的時間
00:47
to fully break down.
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才能被完全分解。
00:49
It leaches harmful chemical contaminants
into our oceans, our soil,
into our oceans, our soil,
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塑膠釋放出有害的化學物質，
汙染我們的海洋、土地、
汙染我們的海洋、土地、
00:55
our food, our water, and into us.
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我們的食物、飲用水，
進入我們的體內。
進入我們的體內。
01:00
So how did we wind up
with so much plastic waste?
with so much plastic waste?
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我們怎麼會累積了
如此多的塑膠垃圾？
如此多的塑膠垃圾？
01:04
Well, it's simple.
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答案其實很簡單。
01:06
Plastic is cheap, durable,
adaptable, and it's everywhere.
adaptable, and it's everywhere.
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因為塑膠便宜耐用，
可塑性強，所以到處都是。
可塑性強，所以到處都是。
01:12
But the good news is
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還好，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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還有一個東西也一樣便宜耐用，
可塑性強，也無處不在。
可塑性強，也無處不在。
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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我的研究顯示它或許能幫我們
01:22
with our plastic pollution problem.
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終結塑膠污染的問題。
01:25
I'm talking about bacteria.
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這個東西是細菌。
01:28
Bacteria are microscopic living beings
invisible to the naked eye
invisible to the naked eye
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細菌是肉眼看不見的微生物，
01:33
that live everywhere,
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它無處不在，
01:35
in all sorts of diverse
and extreme environments,
and extreme environments,
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各式各樣極端的環境中都有。
01:38
from the human gut, to soil, to skin,
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從人體的腸道到土壤，及皮膚表面，
01:42
to vents in the ocean floor, reaching
temperatures of 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
temperatures of 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
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甚至是海底的裂縫
高達華氏 700 度的地方。
高達華氏 700 度的地方。
01:46
Bacteria live everywhere,
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到處都有細菌，
01:49
in all sorts of diverse
and extreme environments.
and extreme environments.
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它能存活於各式各樣極端的環境中。
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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因此，它們找尋食物來源的
能力也極具巧思。
能力也極具巧思。
01:58
There's also a lot of them.
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細菌的數量也很龐大。
02:00
Researchers estimate that there are
roughly five million trillion trillion --
roughly five million trillion trillion --
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研究人員估計細菌總數
大約有 500 萬兆兆之多，
大約有 500 萬兆兆之多，
02:05
that's a five with 30 zeros after it --
bacteria on the planet.
bacteria on the planet.
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5 後面加上 30 個 0 就是
地球上所有的細菌總數。
地球上所有的細菌總數。
02:11
Now, considering that we humans produce
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想一想，我們人類每年製造
02:15
300 million tons of new plastic each year,
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3 億噸的新塑膠，
02:19
I'd say that our plastic numbers
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我敢說我們的塑膠產量的數目
02:21
are looking pretty
comparable to bacteria's.
comparable to bacteria's.
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跟細菌總數不相上下。
02:25
So, after noticing this
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所以，在注意到這點後，
02:28
and after learning
about all of the creative ways
about all of the creative ways
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以及得知細菌尋找食物來源
02:30
that bacteria find food,
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充滿創意的方式後，
02:32
I started to think:
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我開始思考：
02:34
could bacteria in
plastic-polluted environments
plastic-polluted environments
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細菌是否已經在塑膠污染的環境中
02:37
have figured out
how to use plastic for food?
how to use plastic for food?
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找到食用塑膠維生的方法了？
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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這是幾年前我決定開始研究時的問題。
02:47
Now, fortunately for me,
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幸運的是，
02:49
I'm from one of the most
polluted cities in America,
polluted cities in America,
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我來自於美國汙染最嚴重的城市之一，
02:52
Houston, Texas.
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德州的休士頓。
02:54
(Laughs)
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（笑聲）
02:55
In my hometown alone,
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光我自己的家鄉，
02:56
there are seven EPA-designated
Superfund sites.
Superfund sites.
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就有七個美國環境保護署
審定的一級污染地點。
審定的一級污染地點。
03:02
These are sites that are so polluted,
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它們的汙染程度嚴重到
03:04
that the government has deemed
their cleanup a national priority.
their cleanup a national priority.
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政府決定將它們列為
全國優先清理之處。
全國優先清理之處。
03:10
So I decided to trek around to these sites
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因此我決定造訪那些地方
03:13
and collect soil samples
teeming with bacteria.
teeming with bacteria.
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蒐集一些充滿細菌的土壤樣本。
03:16
I started toying with a protocol,
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我開始玩一個科學實驗，
03:19
which is fancy science talk for a recipe.
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有點類似食譜，冠以一個科學的說法。
03:22
And what I was trying to cook up
was a carbon-free media,
was a carbon-free media,
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我想煮的是一道零碳的培養介質，
03:26
or a food-free environment.
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或者說一個沒有食物的環境。
03:29
An environment without the usual
carbons, or food,
carbons, or food,
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一個缺少尋常可見的
碳及食物的環境，
碳及食物的環境，
03:31
that bacteria, like us humans,
need to live.
need to live.
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讓那些細菌像我們人類一樣
在其中想辦法生存。
在其中想辦法生存。
03:36
Now, in this environment,
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在這個環境中，
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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細菌只有單一的碳（食物）來源。
03:42
I would feed my bacteria
polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene terephthalate,
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我餵它們的東西是
聚乙烯對苯二甲酸酯，
聚乙烯對苯二甲酸酯，
03:46
or PET plastic.
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俗稱 PET 塑膠。
03:49
PET plastic is the most widely produced
plastic in the world.
plastic in the world.
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PET 塑膠是全世界
最廣泛生產的塑膠。
最廣泛生產的塑膠。
03:54
It's used in all sorts
of food and drink containers,
of food and drink containers,
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被用來做食物及飲料的包材，
03:58
with the most notorious example
being plastic water bottles,
being plastic water bottles,
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其中最惡名昭彰的是塑膠瓶裝水，
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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人類平均每分鐘消耗一百萬瓶。
04:10
So, what I would be doing,
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所以，我所做的
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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基本上就是強迫我的細菌
吃 PET 塑膠瓶，
吃 PET 塑膠瓶，
04:17
and seeing which, if any,
might survive or, hopefully, thrive.
might survive or, hopefully, thrive.
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看它們能不能生存下來，
甚至蓬勃茁壯。
甚至蓬勃茁壯。
04:23
See, this type of experiment
would act as a screen
would act as a screen
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這類型的實驗也可
作為一種篩選方式，
作為一種篩選方式，
04:25
for bacteria that had adapted
to their plastic-polluted environment
to their plastic-polluted environment
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找出能適應塑膠污染環境的細菌，
04:29
and evolved the incredibly cool
ability to eat PET plastic.
ability to eat PET plastic.
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以及能演變出以
PET 塑膠為食的細菌。
PET 塑膠為食的細菌。
04:35
And using this screen,
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利用這樣的篩選方式，
04:36
I was able to find some bacteria
that had done just that.
that had done just that.
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我找到了那些具有
這些特性的細菌種類。
這些特性的細菌種類。
04:41
These bacteria had figured out
how to eat PET plastic.
how to eat PET plastic.
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它們找到了吞噬
PET 塑膠的方法。
PET 塑膠的方法。
04:48
So how do these bacteria do this?
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所以它們是怎麼辦到的？
04:51
Well, it's actually pretty simple.
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其實很簡單。
04:54
Just as we humans digest carbon or food
into chunks of sugar
into chunks of sugar
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類似人類把碳或食物
消化成小塊的醣類，
消化成小塊的醣類，
04:58
that we then use for energy,
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那之後再轉化成能量，
05:00
so too do my bacteria.
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我的細菌們所做的正是如此。
05:03
My bacteria, however, have figured out
how to do this digestion process
how to do this digestion process
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它們找到如何用這個消化程序，
05:07
to big, tough, durable PET plastic.
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去化解又大又硬
又堅固的 PET 塑膠。
又堅固的 PET 塑膠。
05:12
Now, to do this,
my bacteria use a special version
my bacteria use a special version
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要做到這點，它們運用了
05:15
of what's called an enzyme.
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一種特殊的酶。
05:17
Now, enzymes are simply compounds
that exist in all living things.
that exist in all living things.
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酶是一種存在於生物體中的化合物。
05:21
There are many different types of enzymes,
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它的種類眾多，
05:23
but basically, they make
processes go forward,
processes go forward,
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基本的功能就是推動過程的進展，
05:26
such as the digestion of food into energy.
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例如將食物轉成能量的消化過程。
05:30
For instance, we humans
have an enzyme called an amylase
have an enzyme called an amylase
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比方說，人體中有一種澱粉酶，
05:33
that helps us digest
complex starches, such as bread,
complex starches, such as bread,
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幫助消化麵包之類的
複合澱粉類的食物，
複合澱粉類的食物，
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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將它分解為小塊的醣類，
人體能夠轉變成可用的能量。
人體能夠轉變成可用的能量。
05:42
Now, my bacteria have
a special enzyme called a lipase
a special enzyme called a lipase
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我的細菌們擁有一個
特殊的酶叫做脂肪酶，
特殊的酶叫做脂肪酶，
05:45
that binds to big, tough,
durable PET plastic
durable PET plastic
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它們可以附著纏繞在那些
又大又硬又堅固的 PET 塑膠上，
又大又硬又堅固的 PET 塑膠上，
05:49
and helps break it
into small chunks of sugar
into small chunks of sugar
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將之分解成小塊的醣，
05:52
that my bacteria can then use for energy.
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再轉成它們所需的能量。
05:56
So basically,
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所以基本上，
05:57
PET plastic goes from being
a big, tough, long-lasting pollutant
a big, tough, long-lasting pollutant
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又大又硬又堅固的 PET 塑膠
06:02
to a tasty meal for my bacteria.
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變成我的細菌們的可口大餐。
06:06
Sounds pretty cool, right?
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聽起來很酷吧？
06:10
And I think, given the current scope
of our plastic pollution problem,
of our plastic pollution problem,
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以目前塑膠汙染的規模來說，
06:15
I think it sounds pretty useful.
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我覺得這個方法相當實用。
06:18
The statistics I shared with you
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我所分享的這些數據
06:20
on just how much plastic waste
has accumulated on our planet
has accumulated on our planet
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顯示出我們的地球上
目前累積的塑膠垃圾
目前累積的塑膠垃圾
06:24
are daunting.
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有多麼驚人。
06:25
They're scary.
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這些是很可怕的數據。
06:27
And I think they highlight
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我覺得它們除了凸顯出
06:29
that while reducing, reusing
and recycling are important,
and recycling are important,
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減量、再利用、及回收的重要性外，
06:33
they alone are not going to be enough
to solve this problem.
to solve this problem.
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也顯示出光靠這三個方法
無法解決問題。
無法解決問題。
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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因此我覺得細菌或可派上用場。
06:43
But I do understand
why the concept of bacterial help
why the concept of bacterial help
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但是我也理解為什麼
借助細菌來幫忙的理論
借助細菌來幫忙的理論
06:47
might make some people a little nervous.
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會讓某些人有一點點不安。
06:50
After all, if plastic is everywhere
and these bacteria eat plastic,
and these bacteria eat plastic,
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畢竟，塑膠到處都有，
一旦這些以塑膠為食的細菌，
一旦這些以塑膠為食的細菌，
06:56
isn't there a risk of these bacteria
getting out in the environment
getting out in the environment
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流到外在環境中，
是不是會形成一種風險，
是不是會形成一種風險，
06:59
and wreaking havoc?
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造成更大的破壞？
07:02
Well, the short answer is no,
and I'll tell you why.
and I'll tell you why.
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最簡短的回答是不會，
我告訴你們為什麼。
我告訴你們為什麼。
07:06
These bacteria are already
in the environment.
in the environment.
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這些細菌原本就已經
存在於我們的環境中。
存在於我們的環境中。
07:10
The bacteria in my research
are not genetically modified frankenbugs.
are not genetically modified frankenbugs.
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我研究中使用的細菌並非基改，
科學怪人之類的細菌。
科學怪人之類的細菌。
07:16
These are naturally occurring bacteria
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它們都是天然存在的細菌，
07:18
that have simply adapted
to their plastic-polluted environment
to their plastic-polluted environment
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僅只是適應了塑膠污染的環境，
07:22
and evolved the incredibly gnarly
ability to eat PET plastic.
ability to eat PET plastic.
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同時進化出驚人的
消化 PET 塑膠的能力。
消化 PET 塑膠的能力。
07:28
So the process of bacteria eating plastic
is actually a natural one.
is actually a natural one.
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所以其實這個細菌吃塑膠的
過程是完全天然的。
過程是完全天然的。
07:33
But it's an incredibly slow process.
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但是這是一個極度緩慢的過程。
07:36
And there remains a lot of work to be done
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也尚有很多未完的工作，
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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例如怎樣把過程速度
加快到有用的速度。
加快到有用的速度。
07:44
My research is currently
looking at ways of doing this
looking at ways of doing this
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我目前正在實驗
07:46
through a series of UV,
or ultraviolet, pretreatments,
or ultraviolet, pretreatments,
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用一系列的 UV 紫外線
做前置處理，
做前置處理，
07:50
which basically means
we blast PET plastic with sunlight.
we blast PET plastic with sunlight.
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基本上就是用太陽光
曝曬摧毀 PET 塑膠。
曝曬摧毀 PET 塑膠。
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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這麼做是因為陽光像是
煎牛排用的嫩化劑，
煎牛排用的嫩化劑，
08:00
turning the big, tough,
durable bonds in PET plastic
durable bonds in PET plastic
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將 PET 塑膠中的又大又硬
又堅固的聚合物軟化，
又堅固的聚合物軟化，
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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更容易讓我的細菌們咀嚼。
08:10
Ultimately, what my research hopes to do
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最終，我希望能將我的實驗
08:12
is create an industrial-scale
contained carbon-free system,
contained carbon-free system,
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發展成一個工業規模的零碳系統，
08:17
similar to a compost heap,
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類似有機堆肥堆的作法，
08:19
where these bacteria can thrive
in a contained system,
in a contained system,
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讓細菌可以在一個
控制的系統中成長茁壯，
控制的系統中成長茁壯，
08:23
where their sole food source
is PET plastic waste.
is PET plastic waste.
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而唯一的食物來源就是
PET 塑膠垃圾。
PET 塑膠垃圾。
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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想像有一天能夠將你的塑膠垃圾
08:33
in a bin at the curb
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丟入路邊的垃圾桶，
08:34
that you knew was bound for a dedicated
bacteria-powered plastic waste facility.
bacteria-powered plastic waste facility.
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知道它會被送去使用
細菌分解塑膠的處理設施。
細菌分解塑膠的處理設施。
08:41
I think with some hard work
this is an achievable reality.
this is an achievable reality.
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我覺得再多努力一下，
這目標應可達成。
這目標應可達成。
08:47
Plastic-eating bacteria is not a cure-all.
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吃塑膠的細菌不是萬靈丹。
08:50
But given the current statistics,
it's clear that we humans,
it's clear that we humans,
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可是以現有數據來看，
顯然人類可以借助
細菌的幫忙來解決此一問題。
細菌的幫忙來解決此一問題。
08:54
we could use a little help
with this problem.
with this problem.
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08:58
Because people,
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因為我們人類
08:59
we possess a pressing problem
of plastic pollution.
of plastic pollution.
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所面臨的塑膠汙染情勢緊迫。
09:03
And bacteria might be
a really important part of the solution.
a really important part of the solution.
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而細菌可能是解決方案中
那個很重要的角色。
那個很重要的角色。
09:07
Thank you.
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謝謝。
09:09
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
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