Researchers have identified fungi with an extraordinary ability to break down plastic—at speeds that defy what was once thought possible. One of the most striking examples is Aspergillus tubingensis, discovered at a waste site in Pakistan. This fungus can degrade polyurethane, one of the world’s most durable plastics, within weeks. Under natural conditions, the same material can persist for centuries. The process is facilitated by enzymes released by the fungus. These enzymes attack the chemical