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Plastic Eating Microbes Found In The Alps

A close up of plastic watse

MNK Blog

Plastic Eating Microbes Found In The Alps

A Chilling End To Plastics

Hello Tech Lovers!

In the Alps, microbes that can east plastic at low temperatures have been discovered.

Microorganisms capable of destroying plastic polymers have previously been discovered and as a result, scientists and businesses have latched onto bioengineering enzymes found in bacteria and fungi, as a means to tackle plastic pollution.

picturesque scene of a wooden shack on a hillside with the alps mountains in the background

However, since the majority of those found require high temperatures to function, the industry has been limited due to the process been costly and not carbon neutral.

The most effective performers are two fungi discovered by the Swiss Federal Institute, which work at just 15 degrees Celsius. They are capable of digesting biodegradable polyester-polyurethane (PUR), and two commercially available biodegradable mixtures of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA.)

PUR is commonly used in artificial textiles, PBAT is used widely in industries for packaging, and PLA is found in biomedical applications.

A total of nine fungi, and eight, bacteria species from multiple genera found, are able to digest PUR. And a total of 14 fungi and three bacteria, managed to eat mixtures of PBAT and PLA

During the hunt for a microbe capable of digesting in the cold, the team studied 19 strains of bacteria and 15 fungi growing on plastic that had been left behind, or intentionally buried in Greenland, Svalbard, and Switzerland.

Scientists let isolated microbes grow as single-strain cultures in a dark laboratory at 15 degrees Celsius. Molecular techniques were used to identify them.

In the study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, in total, 59% of strains, including 11 fungi and eight bacteria, could digest PUR at 15 degrees Celsius

Read the related blog post, ‘Scientists Use Mushrooms To Make Biogradable Computer Chips’ here

Don’t forget to check out the blog archive below for more posts from me and why not subscribe to the blog to be the first to hear when a new post is available, also get the low down on new product arrivals?

Adam – MNK Founder

#ProtectYourTech

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Scientists Use Mushrooms to Make Biodegradable Computer Chips

MNK Blog

Scientists Use Mushrooms to Make Biodegradable Computer Chips

The Future Of Computer Chips

Hello Tech Lovers!

The skin from the stems of a mushroom could potentially offer a sustainable alternative to insulative substrates in computing chips.

Scientists are looking at alternatives to common components like the mircochip, as production of electronic devices increases. Peeling the skin from the mycelium of a mushroom can protect chips from heat up to 392°F (200°C.)

The equivalent of the scale of ewaste produced each year

Scientists from Johannes Kepler University in Austria, discovered that once dried, the skin was found to be not only heat resistant, but lasted for years – withstanding being bent and folded thousands of times without wearing or tearing.

The fungus, Ganoderma lucidum grows on dead rotting wood in European mountains. As it reaches maturity, it creates a fibrous skin to protect its own substrate which if peeled, can be used to protect microchips.

Currently computing chip bases tend to be made with un-recyclable plastic materials and the increase of electronic devices has not been paired with an increase in their lifespan. Throwing them away is more economical for users than replacing individual parts. “The vast number of devices produced every day along with the decrease of their lifetime inevitably results in the generation of enormous amounts of electronic waste,” wrote the authors of a paper published in Science Advances.

“Circular economy and recycling concepts alone cannot solve the growing waste crisis. Electronics research, and especially electronic materials research, thus must shift its focus from strictly high-functionality concepts to sustainable, cost-effective approaches.”

Read the full report here

Read the related blog post, ‘Over 50 Million Tonnes Of Electrical Waste Is Produced Each Year here

Don’t forget to check out the blog archive below for more posts from me and why not subscribe to the blog to be the first to hear when a new post is available, also get the low down on new product arrivals?

Adam – MNK Founder

#ProtectYourTech

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PROHOOD® By MNK

A close up of a smartly dressd man holding a PROHOOD Laptop Case

MNK Press

PROHOOD® by MNK

All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker – Press Release

Open PR

MNK, Tech Protection. Announce the release of their long-awaited PROHOOD®. A splash-proof, water repellent, quick-drying, shock-absorbing laptop protector with an integrated splash resistant, water repellent, dark hood. Developed in the UK and inspired by his worldly travels, MNK founder – Adam Gibbs designed PROHOOD® to offer you the ultimate laptop accessory. It protects your device, your privacy and you.

    Fed up with knocks, bumps, scratches and dirt on your expensive machine? PROHOOD® can help protect it.
  • Annoyed with the sun and other light sources causing glare on your laptop? PROHOOD® can block it – reducing screen glare by 80% – 90%
  • Your laptop is the dirtiest device you use. Hiding on your laptop is a whole host of harmful bacteria, around 25% of which is bacilli – a bacteria that can cause meningitis and food poisoning. Keyboards contaminated with a mix of harmful germs could potentially make you very ill – Use the wipe clean, protective canopy of PROHOOD® to cover your laptop from straying cough and sneezes.
  • A Visual Hacker only needs one piece of valuable information top unlock a large scale data breach. PROHOOD® conceals your screen – keeping your sensitive data safe.
  • By donating your old laptop case to MNK you could help reduce landfill waste and claim a discount.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Read the full article via Open PR here

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MNK Launch PROHOOD®

A pair of hands type on a laptop sat inside a prohood. The screen is concealed from the hood of PROHOOD

MNK Press

PROHOOD® by MNK

Press Release – All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker.

Business Mondays

MNK, Tech Protection. Announce the release of their long-awaited PROHOOD®. A splash-proof, water repellent, quick-drying, shock-absorbing laptop protector with an integrated splash resistant, water repellent, dark hood. Developed in the UK and inspired by his worldly travels, MNK founder – Adam Gibbs designed PROHOOD® to offer you the ultimate laptop accessory. It protects your device, your privacy and you.

    Fed up with knocks, bumps, scratches and dirt on your expensive machine? PROHOOD® can help protect it.
  • Annoyed with the sun and other light sources causing glare on your laptop? PROHOOD® can block it – reducing screen glare by 80% – 90%
  • Your laptop is the dirtiest device you use. Hiding on your laptop is a whole host of harmful bacteria, around 25% of which is bacilli – a bacteria that can cause meningitis and food poisoning. Keyboards contaminated with a mix of harmful germs could potentially make you very ill – Use the wipe clean, protective canopy of PROHOOD® to cover your laptop from straying cough and sneezes.
  • A Visual Hacker only needs one piece of valuable information top unlock a large scale data breach. PROHOOD® conceals your screen – keeping your sensitive data safe.
  • By donating your old laptop case to MNK you could help reduce landfill waste and claim a discount.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Read the full article via Business Mondays here

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All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker – PROHOOD®

A hand holds a closed PROHOOD laptop case against a gradient background. The case has symbols and text displayed around it to show the laptop cases features

MNK Press

MNK Launch PROHOOD®

All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker – Press Release

News Anyway

MNK, Tech Protection. Announce the release of their long-awaited PROHOOD®. A splash-proof, water repellent, quick-drying, shock-absorbing laptop protector with an integrated splash resistant, water repellent, dark hood. Developed in the UK and inspired by his worldly travels, MNK founder – Adam Gibbs designed PROHOOD® to offer you the ultimate laptop accessory. It protects your device, your privacy and you.

    Fed up with knocks, bumps, scratches and dirt on your expensive machine? PROHOOD® can help protect it.
  • Annoyed with the sun and other light sources causing glare on your laptop? PROHOOD® can block it – reducing screen glare by 80% – 90%
  • Your laptop is the dirtiest device you use. Hiding on your laptop is a whole host of harmful bacteria, around 25% of which is bacilli – a bacteria that can cause meningitis and food poisoning. Keyboards contaminated with a mix of harmful germs could potentially make you very ill – Use the wipe clean, protective canopy of PROHOOD® to cover your laptop from straying cough and sneezes.
  • A Visual Hacker only needs one piece of valuable information top unlock a large scale data breach. PROHOOD® conceals your screen – keeping your sensitive data safe.
  • By donating your old laptop case to MNK you could help reduce landfill waste and claim a discount.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Read the full article via News Anyway here

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MNK PROHOOD® – All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker Press Release

MNK - PROHOOD with its hood open and in a square boxed formation the background is palin light grey

MNK Press

MNK PROHOOD®

All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker – Press Release

Market Watch

MNK, Tech Protection. Announce the release of their long-awaited PROHOOD®. A splash-proof, water repellent, quick-drying, shock-absorbing laptop protector with an integrated splash resistant, water repellent, dark hood. Developed in the UK and inspired by his worldly travels, MNK founder – Adam Gibbs designed PROHOOD® to offer you the ultimate laptop accessory. It protects your device, your privacy and you.

    Fed up with knocks, bumps, scratches and dirt on your expensive machine? PROHOOD® can help protect it.
  • Annoyed with the sun and other light sources causing glare on your laptop? PROHOOD® can block it – reducing screen glare by 80% – 90%
  • Your laptop is the dirtiest device you use. Hiding on your laptop is a whole host of harmful bacteria, around 25% of which is bacilli – a bacteria that can cause meningitis and food poisoning. Keyboards contaminated with a mix of harmful germs could potentially make you very ill – Use the wipe clean, protective canopy of PROHOOD® to cover your laptop from straying cough and sneezes.
  • A Visual Hacker only needs one piece of valuable information top unlock a large scale data breach. PROHOOD® conceals your screen – keeping your sensitive data safe.
  • By donating your old laptop case to MNK you could help reduce landfill waste and claim a discount.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Read the full article via MarketWatch here

Posted on

MNK Launch PROHOOD® – All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker.

Business man uses PROHOOD to hide his computer screen from others to protect his privacy whilst using his laptop at a trtain station

MNK Press

MNK Launch PROHOOD®

All-in-one Laptop Case, Privacy Shield, Sun Shade & Germ Blocker.

Press Release

MNK, Tech Protection. Announce the release of their long-awaited PROHOOD®. A splash-proof, water repellent, quick-drying, shock-absorbing laptop protector with an integrated splash resistant, water repellent, dark hood. Developed in the UK and inspired by his worldly travels, MNK founder – Adam Gibbs designed PROHOOD® to offer you the ultimate laptop accessory. It protects your device, your privacy and you.

    Fed up with knocks, bumps, scratches and dirt on your expensive machine? PROHOOD® can help protect it.
  • Annoyed with the sun and other light sources causing glare on your laptop? PROHOOD® can block it – reducing screen glare by 80% – 90%
  • Your laptop is the dirtiest device you use. Hiding on your laptop is a whole host of harmful bacteria, around 25% of which is bacilli – a bacteria that can cause meningitis and food poisoning. Keyboards contaminated with a mix of harmful germs could potentially make you very ill – Use the wipe clean, protective canopy of PROHOOD® to cover your laptop from straying cough and sneezes.
  • A Visual Hacker only needs one piece of valuable information top unlock a large scale data breach. PROHOOD® conceals your screen – keeping your sensitive data safe.
  • By donating your old laptop case to MNK you could help reduce landfill waste and claim a discount.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Read the full article via PRFire here

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The innovative products to improve your work from home experience

pretty girl typing on her laptop inside a PROHOOD sat at a garden table. MNK

MNK Press

Outdoor Working

With warmer weather and sunnier skies, getting outside with your laptop can seem very inviting.

The challenges are often poor visibility due to sun glare, and overheating. One of the best products for working from home has to be the new PROHOOD® laptop case.

This is a splash-proof, water repellent, quick drying, shock absorbing laptop case. Magnetic fasteners let you attach the canopy which blocks direct sunlight. The hood also acts as a privacy shield (ideal if you work with confidential material), covers from germs and protects from spills. Add a cold drink and sunscreen and you’re ready to get out working in the sunshine.

Shop PROHOOD® as featured in the article here

Original article by Louise Goss – The Homeworker Magazine

Read the full article on the Homeworker here