Compact Disc DVD metal-eating fungi really exists.
It was ten years ago when a few teams of research groups from Japan began researching the biodegradable properties of the compact disc, isolating several species of bacteria that degradate polycarbonates. Fast forward to 2000, and Victor Cardenes, a Spanish geologist, happened to be making a social trip with friends in the Central American country of Belize. Upon noticing a compact disc containing clearly visibile bioturbation paths, a friend of Cardenes joked, “Look, life is so strong here, we even have something that eats CDs”.
This CD caught the interest of Cardenes who took it back with him to spain and performed SEM imaging and analyzed the tubal pathways, observing that in fact the damage was caused by a fungus that eats and thrives upon aluminum.
Using an electron microscope, Cardenes and colleagues at the Madrid-based Superior Council for Scientific Research later observed that fungi had burrowed into the supposedly indistructible CD from the outer edge.
It had then devoured the thin aluminium reflecting layer and some of the data-storing polycarbonate resin.
Cardenes said: “If you look at the CD from the shiny side, in the places where the fungus has been you can see all the way through to the painted surface on the other side.” adding that, “It completely destroys the aluminium. It leaves nothing behind.”
Biologists at the council concluded that the fungus belonged to a common genus called Geotrichum but had never seen this particular species before.
Biologists, and the CD inventor Phillips have added that, fortunately for the rest of the world, this particular species of Geotrichum has a very narrow specificity of humidity and thermal range, and only survives in the sultry weather conditions that prevail in and in close geographic proximity to Belize.
Primary Source Credit - Journal Naturwissenschaften (2001), 88:351-354
This is by no means new-news, however was interesting enough when I came across a blurb to look into, edit, and rewrite for re-release.
Comment by ProCactus
Ive worked in a recycling depo on the east coast of Australia. There I found hundreds of cds showing a eratic spiraly pattern in them. I beleive this is some kind of bacteria or fungus. I brought some home abd accually infected other CD’s of mine.