Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed special microorganisms that can break down solid types of plastic. With a concentration of less than 1% within five months, bacteria can process more than 90% of the polymer material they come into contact with.In the world, there are microorganisms that can decompose plastic. However, their strength is only enough for bags from the store. And to digest plastic from shoes, smartphone cases and car parts, you need something more powerful. To do this, American researchers have taken bacillus subtilis, which can handle such a task and lives almost everywhere.As planned, the bacteria will sleep in a conditional case, without harming it. And after getting into the compost, it will begin to actively decompose the material. During the tests, it was discovered that the microbe did not survive due to the high temperatures when the plastic was cast. Scientists then added thermostability genes to the bacillus subtilis, allowing it to survive at 135°. And a nice bonus is a 30% increase in material strength over conventional thermoplastic polyurethane.