possible solutions for the pollution of the earth

[m_alias]

The earth is heavily polluted , no question about that. So we have to find a solution.

 

Maybe clouds could be a solution , because in clouds there lives a lot of bacteria and algae and if we could stimulate the growth of algae in clouds , more CO2 would be processed by the algae into O2.

 

Another solution could be a ‘homemade’ cloud consisting of a plate on which algae can grow attached to drones or a hot air balloon that can bring the plate to a certain altitude. The algae would survive because it gets H2O from passing by clouds and it would take the CO2 from the polluted air and trasnfer it into O2.

 

Also another solutions could be a genetically modified algae that uses plastic as a nutrient and converts plastic or CO2 in a less harmful or easier collectable substance.

[jimmydasaint]

I am encouraged that you are thinking of solutions. I take it that you are a young and idealistic person. If not I apologise and am encouraged at older idealists. The idea about algae that take in carbon dioxide and produce plastic monomers sounds good. With the clouds idea, what about the algae in the Oceans that take up and incorporate huge amounts of CO2?

 

I was amazed, even with a simple search, how much humanity can benefit from using algae. I urge you to do some extra reading because this is so exciting!

 

http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/60/9/722.full

 

http://allaboutalgae.com/benefits/

 

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1104772/Amazing-discovery-green-algae-save-world-global-warming.html

 

http://inhabitat.com/living-microalgae-lamp-absorbs-co2-from-the-air/pierre-calleja-inspects-a-prototype-street-lamp-in-his-laboratory-in-libourne/

Edited April 21, 2014 by jimmydasaint

[m_alias]

thanks for your answer and for the interresting websites. but what is your thought on an algae that takes in plastic, processes it and than stores the energy in it cells.

do you think that kind of algae can be created by genetically modifying algae.

[jimmydasaint]

No problem. There is evidence that microalgae can turn CO2 into plastic subunits that can later be recovered and turned into plastic.

 

As well as producing hydrocarbons that can be converted into fuels

or plastics some microalgae have unique abilities such as being able

to produce hydrogen gas which can be used in fuel cells to produce

electricity. Others, such as cyanobacteria, might one day be used in

solar panels to generate electricity directly. Algae can grow in very

nutrient rich environments that are toxic to other plants so they could be

used for treating ‘waste waters’, from a range of industrial sources.

http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Resources/algal-biofuels.pdf

 

and this link on bioplastics:

http://bioplasticsnews.com/2014/02/24/bioplastic-made-from-algae/

 

Also there are microorganisms that can digest plastics, presumably for energetic purposes to answer your initial point:

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/boy-discovers-microbe-that-eats-plastic

 

Coula algae be genetically engineered to do the same? I don't know. I think it is important to look at the metabolic pathways that allow digestion of plastics in bacteria and see if these can be accommodated in algae by genetic engineering.

Edited April 21, 2014 by jimmydasaint

[Nasteha]

That is a great idea! If there is algae that digests plastic, that would greatly decrease the amount of pollution.

[Peace]

Algae that eat plastic is interesting, but not a very useful or thorough solution to the problem, in my opinion.

 

Any technological solution has several inherent and serious flaws - primarily, it does not address the cause, but only the symptoms. If we clean out the carbon di-oxide somewhat, and yet still double the human population again, in another 35 years, you can understand where i'm going with this.

 

The best solution has always seemed to me to be a simple reduction in reproduction - each person should only have 1 or 2 children, or fewer.

 

I also would say we have to convince people to do it - it's a battle of information, ideas, and so forth; and there's much we have to go up against. . .but it really is just that, a battle of ideas. The understanding of our situation has to replace an unawareness of it, and the thought that we can do whatever we want with no regard for consequences - in other words, increase the population exponentially until we die - has to be superseded by an understanding of our impact and place in the world, and the ability to work for change for the better.

[fgneba]

Algae that eat plastic is interesting, but not a very useful or thorough solution to the problem, in my opinion.

 

Any technological solution has several inherent and serious flaws - primarily, it does not address the cause, but only the symptoms. If we clean out the carbon di-oxide somewhat, and yet still double the human population again, in another 35 years, you can understand where i'm going with this.

 

The best solution has always seemed to me to be a simple reduction in reproduction - each person should only have 1 or 2 children, or fewer.

 

I also would say we have to convince people to do it - it's a battle of information, ideas, and so forth; and there's much we have to go up against. . .but it really is just that, a battle of ideas. The understanding of our situation has to replace an unawareness of it, and the thought that we can do whatever we want with no regard for consequences - in other words, increase the population exponentially until we die - has to be superseded by an understanding of our impact and place in the world, and the ability to work for change for the better.

 

Of course, human population growth has always been a major problem, still is a major problem and (most probably) will continue to be a problem for a long time. But while we seet to address the issue of population as a solution to pollution, this appears to be "work-in-progress", and always will be. So seeking other solutions while we work on the population issue is very important.

 

I agree with you though that the side effects of using technologically modified algae needs to be looked into, as it could turn out to cause more problems in other eco-spaces.

 

Just a quick thought too: what about using certain types of biochar in agricultural production? Studies suggest that some biochar made of particular feedstock can potentially increase agricultural yield, yet reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere.

[Peace]

Absolutely. You make a good point - actually when I posted I sort of thought the thread was about population itself. . I was embarrassed to see that pollution was the topic at hand! Although later on I figured, well - my post wasn't too off-topic.

 

As for pollution, the best thing I can think to do is to reduce our consumerism and materialism as much as possible. To this end, I've gradually shifted my whole life away from it - and for several years now I don't buy anything except food and occasionally books. . . It's a small contribution, but I'm pleased to do my part. Anything we buy never really changes how happy we are - we can be perfectly happy with nothing other than fresh air, good family, and a peaceful life. . . that's personal philosophy, but it's born out over the eras by a lot of philosophers.

 

As for consumerism - there is the point that is usually made that it's necessary for the economy to grow and spend money constantly - however, to me, the far more important issue is the environmental balance of the ecosystem, because that is what supports all life - so therefore, sustaining it and preserving ecological balance seems to far supersede any other goal.

 

I don't believe our economy has to be structured around consumerism in the way that it is now - yes, material goods will always be necessary to a certain extent, but I believe it, as well as our population, should be scaled back to a large extent. Again - in the aims of maximising our chances of surviving millennia (at least) into the future. It really does seem to be a question of maximising survival chances.

 

So that's my main idea about pollution - as much as possible, buy locally, and learn to be happy without needing items of entertainment that have to be shipped across the globe.

[Harold Squared]

Why stop at microorganisms which eat plastic? There are already ones that eat crude oil, just amp those puppies up and watch 'em go! There is a novel called "Ill Wind" which explores the ramifications of such an event and billions die, oh happy day! Authors Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason, not that weather warden chick.

[Harold Squared]

Just to be more clear, the fictional Prometheus organism in the novel becomes airborne and consumes not only petroleum but just about anything derived from it, including plastics.

[CharonY]

And it is also fictional. There are quite a few bacteria capable of biodegradation, but by its very nature this process is relatively inefficient and slow.