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Prime Unready

Feel good story about scientific research that left me with some questions as a layperson reading this. The fact that Vice picked it up was an interesting data point. So we talk about how this will solve for over a tenth of the waste being generated in the world - that is a staggering number and gets you engaged. It's built on work done since 2005 so you pause to wonder why in almost 20 years the problem was not solved. 

They throw in AI as it it was the magic wand that ultimately revealed the answer that was being sought in vain for decades. But AI has existed for many decades and the data used in this particular model is not novel either. The article closes with the reality check that makes you wonder why this was being reported in the first place - we are not talking about the high school science fair winner here. 

First, Alper says, he and his team must test FAST-PETase on the wide range of different types of PET found in the waste stream, and the detritus that’s often found in plastic bottles or on top of plastic containers when it’s recycled. Should the researchers find an enzyme or group of enzymes with the robustness to be used practically, they believe it can help tackle the “billions of tons” of waste in our environment. 

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