Levan – Science Poetry

Old bones wander
Read as a sediment by ghosts –
What does not fade seams.
Scattered remnants
Once heated
Now let go of the drift;
Through sludge
They’re split
Reshape,
Erosion –
The name is worn on the shell.
Somewhere in the dark
The little hungry found them,
Turn them over,
Take them deeper –
A slow failure,
Thick air
What’s there
remains.

The poem is inspired by recent research on bacteria that can consume chemicals forever.

Each and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals used in everything from non-stick cookware to fire foam. Their widespread use leads to severe pollution in water, soil and even the human body, as these chemicals are not easily decomposed in the environment. Certain PFAs, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFO), are particularly concerned due to their durability and potential health risks, including links to cancer and immune system effects. Conventional methods for removing PFA from contaminated areas are expensive and often ineffective methods, and it is crucial to find alternative solutions that can safely break down these chemicals.

This study explores whether a specific type of bacteria is Labrys portucalensis F11 can help degrade three different PFA compounds. The study found that this bacteria was able to break down PFO and another PFA, 5:3 FTCA, significantly over time, producing smaller, fluorinated by-products. These findings suggest that bacteria can be used to clean up PFA contamination in the environment, providing potential biological solutions to problems that have been difficult to manage to date.