Kew Gardens researchers discover fungi that can break down plastic in weeks

In the UK, the Telegraph reports that Kew Gardens researchers and an international team from 18 countries have discovered Aspergillus tubingensis can break down plastic in weeks rather than decades using its mycelia. The fungi was found in a Pakistani trash dump by Chinese scientists last year. The discovery was part of a larger publication detailing the world’s fungi including those that can also boost biodiesel production and clean up radioactive material. Scientists estimate that as much as 93% of fungi species have yet to be discovered.