Illinois Scientists Turn Plastic Bottles and Crop Waste into Protein Cookies
Imagine biting into a cookie made from discarded plastic bottles and corn stalks. That's the inventive reality from Southern Illinois University researchers.
TLDR
Associate professor Lahiru Jayakody and graduate student Sandhya Jayasekara led the project, using genetically engineered yeast to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into proteins, fats, and flavors, then 3D-printing them into µBites cookies. Backed by NASA for deep-space food, the process tackles plastic pollution and food scarcity, with safety tests confirming no toxins or pathogens so far. The team shared updates at the American Chemical Society meeting in Chicago, as reactions online mix excitement over upcycling with skepticism about eating recycled trash.
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