Engineered Enzyme Breaks Down Plastic in Hours Instead of Centuries

A newly engineered enzyme can break down common plastics in just hours, offering a potential solution to plastic pollution. ## The Engineering Starting with naturally occurring plastic-eating enzymes, scientists used AI to design a variant that works 1,000 times faster. ## How It Works The enzyme breaks plastic polymers back into their chemical building blocks, which can then be used to make new plastic with virgin quality. ## Environmental Impact This technology could divert millions of tons of plastic from landfills and oceans, creating a truly circular plastic economy. ## Commercial Development Several companies are scaling up the technology for industrial use, with commercial recycling plants expected within three years.