Leaving – Science Poems

Old bones remain
Ghost Thread Sediment –
Seams that do not fade.
Scattered remains
Once tied up with heat
I’ve just lost my drifting.
Through the silt wind
They split,
Reshape,
Erode –
The name worn on the shell.
Somewhere in the darkness
A small hungry man finds them,
Turn them over,
Push them deeper –
Slowly placed,
Thick air
Why
It’s still there.

This poem is inspired Recent research To bacteria that can eat chemicals forever.

Palfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) are a group of human chemicals used in everything from non-stick cooking utensils to fire-fighting foam. As these chemicals do not easily break down in the environment, their widespread use has led to serious contamination of water, soil and even the human body. Some PFAs, such as Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), are of particular concern due to their persistence and potential health risks, including links to cancer and immune system effects. Traditional methods for removing PFA from contaminated areas are expensive and often ineffective, so it is important to find alternative solutions that can safely destroy these chemicals.

This study investigated whether a particular type of bacteria existed. Labrys portucalensis F11 helps to break down three different PFA compounds. This study found that this bacteria could significantly degrade PFOS and another PFA, 5:3 FTCA, over time. These findings suggest that bacteria can be used to clean up PFA contamination in the environment, and potential biology for problems that have so far proven difficult to manage. Provides solutions.