A Fantastic Plastic Feast: What Happens When Biodegradable Bags Meet Microbes

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode: A Fantastic Plastic Feast: What Happens When Biodegradable Bags Meet Microbes
Date: March 9, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz

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Overview

In this episode, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the fascinating science behind new biodegradable plastic bags and how they are broken down by microbes in the ocean. Through an imaginative adventure involving a giant aquarium, a time-traveling "Wow Machine," and plenty of humor, the hosts dive into how these new plastics might help tackle the persistent problem of plastic pollution, showcasing how science and innovation can offer hope for a cleaner planet.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scene: An Eco-Friendly Grocery Mishap

• Setting: Mindy and Guy Raz are grocery shopping at "Healthway," an all-natural, eco-conscious food pantry.
• Plastic Bag Faux Pas: Mindy tries to use what she claims are "special" plastic bags at the checkout, but the staff (including recurring character Thomas Fingerling) and other shoppers react negatively, given the store’s anti-plastic bag rules.
  • [05:08] Mindy insists her bags are different: “But Guy Raz, these plastic bags are different.”
• Guy Raz explains:
  • [05:57] “They take their environmental issues here very seriously. And plastic bags, they are a big no, no.”

2. Introducing Biodegradable Plastic Bags

• Biodegradable Explained: Mindy clarifies her bags are biodegradable—capable of breaking down like a banana peel or apple core.
  • [06:03] Mindy: “Yeah, just like a banana peel or compost or an apple core.”
• Scientific Source: The bags were developed at JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology).
  • [06:12] “That was a mouthful.”
  • [06:19] Guy Raz: “You mean JAMSTEC?”
• Quick Breakdown: The research found these bags lost 80% of their mass in just over a year.
  • [06:35] Mindy: “80% of the bag disappeared in over a year.”
  • [06:45] Guy Raz: “That's super fast. Considering that normal plastic bags can take tens or hundreds or even a thousand years to fully break down.”

3. Time to Experiment!

• At Mindy’s Gingerbread Mansion:
  • They set up a science experiment using a huge tank of seawater in her living room to see biodegradable bags break down.
  • [07:18] Guy Raz: “Mindy, why is there a giant tank of water in the middle of your living room?”
  • [07:25] Mindy: “Oh, that's just for science, Guy Raz.”
• Scientific Method: Mimicking the JAMSTEC studies, they observe how the bags disintegrate in seawater.
  • [07:55] Mindy: “We're gonna do the same.”
• Learning Objective: Understand how microbes help break down the bags.

4. An Adventure in the Wow Machine

• Shrink Down!
  • They use the Wow Machine to shrink to microscopic size for a first-hand look at how microbes eat plastic.
  • [10:03] Mindy: “...we have to shrink down to the microscopic level.”
• Fast Forward: Use time travel to observe decomposition happening over months in seconds.
  • [11:12] “Let me just see if I can speed us up with a little bit of a good old fashioned time travel.”

5. Microbes in Action: The Plastic Eaters

• Meet the Microbes: The hosts see the plastic bag up close and watch as microbes start breaking it down.
  • [12:05] Mindy: “Guy Raz. Behold the bag eating microbe.”
  • [12:20] Mindy: “They're like nature's invisible workers... Some live in the soil... and in the ocean, some microbes make oxygen for us to breathe.”
• Science Behind the Scene:
  • JAMSTEC scientists knew microbes could eat oil, wood, and even some metals, so they hypothesized some could digest the new plastic.
  • [13:09] Guy Raz: “Because they break down this biodegradable plastic in the same way that other microbes break down other tough materials.”
  • [13:18] Mindy: “...maybe they could add this newly developed biodegradable plastic to the menu too.”

6. What Happens to the Plastic Next?

• Microbial Digestion:
  • The microbes digest the plastic and convert it into chemicals—carbon dioxide and water.
  • [14:20] Mindy: “It's not gross, Guy Raz. It's science. These microbes are taking the plastic bag, digesting it, and then converting it into chemicals like carbon dioxide and water.”

7. The Bigger Picture: Environmental Impact

• Plastic Pollution Problem:
  • Regular plastic bags are a huge problem, especially in places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
  • [15:34] Guy Raz: “Yeah, have you heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?”
  • [15:44] Mindy: “Right. And it's super big too. Like twice the size of Texas big.”
• Hope for the Future:
  • While single-use plastic remains a problem, replacing everyday plastics with biodegradable versions could greatly reduce environmental harm, especially for marine life.
  • [16:06] Guy Raz: “...then a lot of them would be break down in just over a year and pose less of a threat to the environment and sea life.”
  • [16:20] Mindy: “Well, we've still got a long way to go... but it is a good first step.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Biodegradability:
  • Mindy, [06:03]: “Yeah, just like a banana peel or compost or an apple core.”
• On Time Travel in Science:
  • Mindy, [11:12]: “Let me just see if I can speed us up with a little bit of a good old fashioned time travel.”
• On Microbes' Role:
  • Mindy, [12:20]: “They're like nature's invisible workers.”
  • Guy Raz, [13:09]: “Because they break down this biodegradable plastic in the same way that other microbes break down other tough materials.”
• On the Solution's Scale:
  • Mindy, [16:20]: “...we've still got a long way to go. I mean, there's a lot of plastic in the world right now, but it is a good first step.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:08 – 06:45] — Discussion of biodegradable bags and how quickly they break down compared to regular plastics.
• [07:18 – 08:20] — Setting up the home science experiment.
• [09:13 – 11:12] — Entering the Wow Machine, shrinking, and time traveling to watch plastic decompose.
• [12:05 – 14:20] — Microbes in action: digesting and breaking down the plastic.
• [15:26 – 16:20] — Talking about current plastic pollution and the potential of biodegradable plastics.

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains the playful, energetic, and curiosity-driven tone that Wow in the World is known for, mixing imaginative scenarios with solid, accessible science facts. Mindy and Guy Raz keep things lighthearted while not shying away from the real challenges of plastic pollution, leaving listeners feeling informed and empowered.

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Conclusion

Through zany experimentation, time travel, and a microbial feast, Mindy and Guy Raz help listeners understand the science behind new biodegradable plastics and the crucial role microbes play in breaking them down. The journey inspires hope for creative solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, while emphasizing that although science is making strides, sustainable habits—like remembering your reusable tote bags!—are still key.

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Transcript

[A]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, hey, Reg. What's that? A new pigeon dropping? Isn't that the postcard you send out to members of the World Organization of Wowzers every quarter? Can I see it? What? You need to see if I'm a member of the wow First. Reggie, come on. It's me, Mindy. Huh? You're not seeing a Mindy on the list. Okay, Try Mandy. I think Thomas Fingerling signed me up.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Can I get my pigeon dropping now? What? I gotta wait for it in the mail, but it's right there. Okay, fine. Guess I'll go wait out by the mailbox. In the meantime, to get the next quarterly mailing from Reggie, Grownups, you can sign your Wowzer up to be a member of the World Organization of wowzers by Monday, March 16. It's so top secret, I haven't even seen it yet. Now where'd I put my mailbox? Grownups, when you sign your Wowzer up to be a member of the World Organization of Wowzers, you also get birthday cards in the mail from me and Guy Raz, access to over a thousand online activities inspired by our podcast, and a welcome kit from me and Guy Raz, including our autographs and a special T shirt. Plus, you get to help support all the work that goes into powering the wow at Tinkercast Grown Ups. Visit Tinkercast.com membership to sign up today. That's Tinkercast.com membership. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[B]

All seated. 3, 2, 1. Mission.

[A]

Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proportion I don't know what you've been told we're in a golden age so many discoveries that are jumping off the page While in the world wow in the world While in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow. Houston.

[C]

Welcome to Healthway, your local neighborhood all

[A]

natural, eco conscious food pantry.

[C]

Remember, a sustainable future is just a mouthful away. Okay, let me just check my shopping list here. Uh, quinoa, Check. Kale, Check. Tomatoes, Check. And marshmallows.

[A]

Mindy. What?

[C]

I thought we were supposed to be making a salad tonight.

[A]

We are. Don't worry, Guy Raz. These are green marshmallows.

[C]

What kind of salad has marshmallows in it?

[A]

Uh, a good one.

[C]

Please put them back.

[A]

Ah, fine. But I'm keeping the maple syrup.

[C]

Okay, let's see where I was. Ah, yes. Tomatoes.

[A]

Check.

[C]

Okay, that looks like it's everything. Now to the checkout line. And this one doesn't seem too long.

[D]

There's your receipt.

[A]

Thanks.

[D]

Uh, have a healthy day.

[A]

Bye now.

[C]

Thomas Fingerling.

[D]

Oh, hey there, Mr. Razzy.

[C]

What are you doing here?

[D]

What do you mean? I work here.

[C]

You work at the Healthway grocery store?

[D]

Well, sure.

[C]

Why?

[D]

Well, nobody else could seem to wrangle G Force.

[A]

Okay, I'm back from my bathroom break. Excuse me.

[C]

G Force? You work here too?

[A]

No, I'll just take the money. That'll be $75.

[C]

What?

[D]

You should probably just give her the money. You don't want to see her get angry.

[A]

Well, I'm already angry. Fingerling. Okay, put the marshmallows back, Guy Raz. But I really think we should get fudge brownies for the Thomas Fingerling.

[D]

What?

[A]

Grandma. G Force hug? No. What are you two doing here?

[C]

They work here.

[D]

We work here.

[A]

You do?

[C]

Apparently.

[A]

I'll just take the money.

[D]

Ah, she's just being modest. GeForce is the fastest grocery bagger this side of the. Wherever we are.

[A]

Whatever.

[D]

Speaking of which, you need a reusable bag for all these vegetables, Guy Razzie.

[C]

Oh, sure.

[A]

Oh, no, that's okay. I brought my. They're somewhere in here. Where'd I put those bags? Oh, here we go. Are those plastic bags?

[D]

Uh. Oh.

[A]

Uh, what just happened?

[C]

Mindy, this is an all natural, eco conscious food pantry.

[A]

Really? I thought it was a grocery store.

[C]

They take their environmental issues here very seriously. And plastic bags, they are a big. No, no.

[A]

But Guy Raz, these plastic bags are different.

[C]

How?

[A]

Well, there she is. There's the lady that paints the environment. Get her. Oh, come on.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

You two better get out of here.

[C]

Come on, Minnie.

[A]

Run, run, run, run, run, run. Thank you for shopping at some. That was a close one.

[C]

Well, I guess that's what we get for forgetting our reusable bags.

[A]

Well, if everyone in there had actually given me a second to explain myself, they would know that these plastic bags aren't actually all that bad for the environment.

[C]

What do you mean?

[A]

Well, I'll tell you about it on the way home. Come on, let's ambulate and pontificate.

[C]

What?

[A]

Walk and talk. Ah. You see, Guy Raz, these bags are biodegradable.

[C]

Biodegradable? You mean they break down in n.

[A]

Yeah, just like a banana peel or compost or an apple core.

[C]

The bag breaks down just like that?

[A]

Yeah, they're based on these plastic bags that were developed at the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology. That was a mouthful.

[C]

You mean jamstack?

[A]

Yeah, that's much easier to say. Anyhoo, I was excited to try out these new biodegradable bags that they developed. I just didn't realize people would freak out so much.

[C]

Uh huh. And how long does it take for these bags to fully disintegrate?

[A]

Well, this research found that the bags lost 80% of their mass in just over a year. In other words, 80% of the bag disappeared in over a year.

[C]

Huh, that's super fast. Considering that normal plastic bags can take tens or hundreds or even a thousand years to fully break down.

[A]

I know.

[C]

So how does it all work?

[A]

Well, Guy Raz, I could tell you. Yes, but I'd rather show you. Look, we made it back to my gingerbread mansion.

[C]

Oh yeah.

[A]

I freshly baked the front door this morning. Come on, follow me. Home sweet home. Literally. Because it's gingerbread.

[C]

Mindy, why is there a giant tank of water in the middle of your living room?

[A]

Oh, that's just for science, Guy Raz.

[C]

For science? You needed a bus sized tank of water in your living room for science?

[A]

Yeah. You wanted to know how these biodegradable bags worked, so we're gonna run a little science experiment just like they did at Jamstech.

[C]

A science experiment about plastic bags in this aquarium?

[A]

Yeah. Part of developing these biodegradable plastic bags meant that the researchers had to observe how they broke down in seawater.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And we're gonna do the same.

[C]

Wait, this is seawater?

[A]

Yeah. Reggie and I brought this seawater home from our trip to the beach last week, and I was gonna use it to cook potatoes for our salad tonight.

[C]

So let me just see if I understand the experiment here, Mindy.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

We're gonna take some of your plastic bags.

[A]

Uh huh.

[C]

Put them in this giant tank of seawater.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And then observe them as they break down over time.

[A]

You know it. Let me just climb up this ladder here. Okay. Now I just gotta pull the bags out of my pocket and drop em in the seawater. Dropping in the bag.

[C]

But Mindy, didn't you say that it takes just over a year for these plastic bags to break down?

[A]

Uh huh.

[C]

So we're just gonna stand around here for a year?

[A]

Yes, of course. We're not just going to stand around for over a year, Guy Raz. That's what the wow machine is for.

[C]

Wow machine. Where are we going? Well, we're going in here in the seawater tank.

[A]

You know it. We're gonna get up close and personal, Guy Raz, to see just how this plastic bag breaks down in the ocean. Come on, follow me. The wow machine's in the garage. Okay, Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.

[B]

Opening the door.

[C]

Mindy, what is going on?

[A]

Sorry. Reggie's been making a couple of tweaks to the wow machine.

[C]

He.

[A]

The wow machine ready yet? That's good enough for me. Come on, Guy Raz. Okay, yeah, we'll be back in, like, 13 minutes. You can reinstall the temporal stabilizer when we get back. It'll be fine. Stop worrying, Reg. Come on. Hop on in, Guy Raz. All right, closing the hatch. Strap in, Guy Raz. It's time to shrinkify.

[C]

Shrinkify?

[A]

Yeah. In order to see how this bag gets broken, we have to shrink down to the microscopic level.

[C]

If you say so, Mindy.

[A]

I do say so. All strapped in.

[C]

Uh, there's nothing to strap in with, Mindy.

[A]

Well, then you better hold onto something, because here we go. All right, now let's go see if we made it. All right. You want to open those blinds, Guy Raz?

[C]

Oh, sure. Opening the blinds.

[A]

Whoa. Oh, yeah.

[C]

Where are we, Mindy?

[A]

Well, can't you tell, Guy Raz? We're in my giant living room seawater aquarium.

[C]

And that giant jellyfish looking wall in front of us.

[A]

That's our plastic bag. Whoa.

[C]

We really are small.

[A]

Yep, we're on the microscopic scale now, buddy. You could fit about 5 million wow machines in the head of a needle at this size.

[C]

And so when does this plastic bag start to break down, Mindy?

[A]

Eh, in a couple of months. Let me just see if I can speed us up with a little bit of a good old fashioned time travel. Now, where did I put the fast forward button? Ah, Found it. All right, here we go. There we go. Fast forward. Okay. Should be coming up on three months right about now. Phew. Okay, let me just see here. Ah.

[C]

What was that, Mindy?

[A]

Wow.

[C]

What's that sound?

[A]

That's the wow Machine's proximity alarm.

[C]

I have a bad feeling about this.

[A]

Here it comes. Whoa.

[C]

What in the.

[A]

Guy Raz. Behold the bag eating microbe.

[C]

A microbe? You mean those microscopic, teeny, tiny little creatures that live on and inside our bodies?

[A]

Yeah, but they don't just live on our bodies, Guy Raz. They also live out here. They're like nature's invisible workers. Some live in the soil where they break down dead plants and animals, turning them into nutrients that help new things grow. And in the ocean, some microbes make oxygen for us to breathe.

[C]

And these ocean microbes, well, they're the

[A]

reason these bags are able to be broken down.

[C]

What do you mean?

[A]

Wait for it, Wait for it. Wait for it.

[C]

Mindy, is that microbe eating that plastic bag?

[A]

Uh huh. And that is how the plastic bag is able to lose 80% or most of its mass in just a little over a year.

[C]

Because they break down this biodegradable plastic in the same way that other microbes break down other tough materials.

[A]

You know it. See, these scientists from Jamstech knew that there were other microbes out there that eat oil and wood, even some metals. So they had an idea. Yeah, if they can eat up those other things, then maybe they could add this newly developed biodegradable plastic to the menu too. Huh?

[C]

Look, here comes another one.

[A]

Ooh, these microbes sure are hungry today.

[C]

You know, Mindy, they actually look kind of cute.

[A]

Yeah, some of the most adorable little microorganisms I've ever seen.

[C]

But Mindy, where does all that plastic go? I mean, you know, after it gets eaten by these microbes?

[A]

Well, does that answer your question? Did that microbe just chewed out that plastic bag? Yeah, it did.

[C]

Ugh, gross.

[A]

It's not gross, Kairoz. It's science. These microbes are taking the plastic bag, digesting it, and then converting it into chemicals like carbon dioxide and water. Great job, buddies. Keep up the good work. Whoa.

[C]

Chikes.

[A]

We better get out of here, guy Raz, before this becomes a feeding frenzy.

[C]

Good idea, Mindy.

[A]

Strap in.

[C]

Once again. Mindy, there are no straps.

[A]

Oh yeah? Well then hold on to something. Cause here we go. Okie doke. Hey Reg. See, I told you it would be fine. Ah, sorry about the water. Hey Reg, where are you going? He's not mad at me.

[C]

So Mindy, Ev, what does this new technology mean for the future of plastic bags?

[A]

Well, single use or plastic that you use once and throw away is still a pretty big problem for our planet.

[C]

Particularly in the ocean.

[A]

Yeah, have you heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

[C]

Yeah, it's a huge area in the ocean where ocean currents trap plastic and other trash.

[A]

Right. And it's super big too. Like twice the size of Texas big.

[C]

And super dangerous. Because animals mistake the plastic for food or get tangled in it and the garbage never really goes away.

[A]

Yeah, but if more of that trash was made out of the same sort of plastic that these plastic bags are

[C]

made out of, then a lot of them would be break down in just

[A]

over a year and pose less of a threat to the environment and sea life.

[C]

So how far away are we from replacing our everyday plastic with this biodegradable stuff?

[A]

Well, we've still got a long way to go. I mean, there's a lot of plastic in the world right now, but it is a good first step.

[C]

You gotta start somewhere.

[A]

Reggie, you came back. Uh oh. Well, Guy Raz, looks like we're on mopping duty.

[C]

Oh boy.

[A]

Come on. If we get started now, we can still get back to the grocery store in time to get all those ingredients for tonight's salad.

[C]

Alright, fine. Hand me that mop.

[A]

That's the spirit, buddy.

[C]

But maybe we should bring a couple of my reusable tote bags this time, you know, just to be safe.

[A]

Not a bad idea. Wow in the world. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you.

[E]

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[A]

That's it. Back to the show. Well in the World. Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[B]

My name is perrin and I'm 9 years old. I live in Atlanta, Georgia and my wow in the World is about a girl named Bella J. Dark who published a book named the Lost Cat when she was only five years old. Hi, my name is James and I'm from Pennsylvania. My Wow in my world is that the most children delivered on a single birth is nine babies. And it's also the first time that has ever happened. Hi, my name is Addison and I live in Lynwood, Washington. And my wow in the world is that lightning can be different colors. And those colors are blue, yellow, violet, red, orange, green and pink. Bye. Love you. So say hi to Wedgie for me. My name is Kade, I'm from Minnesota. And my wow is the cats use their whiskers to like when it's dark. They use them to get around places and feel objects. Hi Mindy. Hi Guy Raz. My name is Hazel. I'm from M2 Washington. My wow in the world is that Komodo dragons are the biggest lizard in the world and they can be 10ft long. Say hi to Grandma D Shore.

[A]

Oh fine.

[B]

Thomas Fingering.

[D]

Oh, cool dude.

[B]

And Dennis.

[A]

Mother, come quick.

[B]

Bye. My name is Deb. I'm six years old. I'm from Massachusetts. My wow in the world is honey badgers can protect yourself from bees and steal honey. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is camilla and I'm 10 years old. I'm from Washington D.C. and my wow in the world is that the letters DNA stand for deoxyribonucleic acid. Say hi to the annoying dentist for me. Hello, I am from South Africa and I am Luke. My wow in the world is there to your teeth are connected to your jaws. Hi, my name is Cassidy and I live in Toledo, Ohio. My wow in the world is did you know that a dog's nose print is just as unique as a human's fingerprint? Hi there Rosamundi. My name is Callie and I'm her brother Keller and we're from Galena, Ohio and we have two wow in the world. My wow in the world is the winds on Neptune can blow faster than 1,200 miles an hour. My wow in the world is a silverback gorilla can lift over 1,763 pounds. Say hi to Dennis and Reggie for us. Bye.

[C]

Oh, wow.

[A]

End of messages. Thanks for listening to this episode of wow in the World. If you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call our WOW hotline at 1-888-7-WOW WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show.

[C]

And while you're at it, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Leave us five stars and tell us what wows you about our show by leaving a review or send us a comment on Spotify. You just might hear your reviewsy read by Dennis on WeWOW.

[A]

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and more on Tinkercast.com, you can also shop our wow shop, get tickets for upcoming live events, find our books, toys and science kits and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.

[A]

Once again, that's Tinkercast.com wow in the

[C]

world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from me Guy Raz.

[A]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior Production Director Jed Anderson with help from our audio producers Tyler Thole and Henry Moskal. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.

[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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