Eels on drugs
Cocaine in rivers is harming endangered eels, which is bad news. But, having read a few 70s and 80s horror paperbacks, I can’t help but take the idea in a different direction, and imagine drug-crazed river life besieging the country.
pollution
Make way for the organic battery
Laccase, an enzyme produced by certain woodland fungi, has been shown to be a potential replacement for catalysts such as platinum in batteries and fuel cells. Deployment is a long way away, but if it happens it could see an end to energy intensive mining operations. Also interesting to note, Laccase breaks down lignin, one of the important steps in preparing cellulose materials for fermentation. So it could have an interim use in the production of ethanol from plant waste.
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