Much to our regret

chemicals that are derived from fossil fuels. And now, it can be made from plastic!

To create it, researchers genetically modified a strain of E. colibacteria so that it can make vanillin from terephthalic acid, a raw material used in the production of plastic bottles, which can be broken down using special enzymes that reduce them to their basic chemical components. Because it uses microbial fermentation, the chemistry is similar to that of brewing beer.

There are benefits in creating vanillin from plastic instead of petroleum. It increases vanillin supply, eliminates plastic waste, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and preserves forests. So don’t be surprised if your vanilla ice cream got its flavor from plastic waste!

And here’s another one. Researchers developed a process for using microbes to transform plastic waste into protein.Lu,professor of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Techtmann, associate professor of Biological Sciences at Michigan Technological University, used chemicals to break down plastic polymers and then uses naturally occurring microbes to convert the plastic building blocks into microbial biomass that has nutritional value.

Lu said that plastic and food both contain the essential building blocks of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. The chemical formula for PET, the kind of plastic used for water bottles, is (C10H8O4)n, while the formula for wheat flour is (C6H10O5)n.

The end result is called “microbial cells”, which are made up of very similar things to the food that we eat. They contain proteins, lipids, and vitamins. These cells currently take the form of a powder that could itself be a food product and could also be used to make energy bars or other types of food.

WHETHER WE LIKE it or not, the Dutertes still command a very large following as to ensure their victory at the polls.

Filipino electorate goes for the popular and wellentrenched candidates. We still practice the gaya-gaya mentality. So, it is no wonder that celebrities find it easy to win, at all costs.

The drive, Run Sara Run still picks up speed and coverage throughout the country. The question is: Is it moral and appropriate that only the Dutertes reign in this country? Wala na bang ibang deserving and qualified?

We have endured six years of the old Duterte rule. Except for its Build, Build, Build program, can it pride itself that we have progressed tremendously?

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There are paid advertisements on television featuring former Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manila's Isko Moreno Domagoso. What would these convey to us?

The Vice President, for her part, sought to downplay election efforts by saying: Focus should be given first to the fight against COVID 19 pandemic instead of the jockeying for positions to which candidates are now riveted to.

Well, Leni Robredo has always been passive, never proactive in playing politics. She wavers so often, baffling even her closest advisers as to where her political directions may lead her.

Bottom line, she may well run for governor in her native Camarines Sur where she is well-known and accepted by her kababayan.

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And what about former Vice President Jejomar Binay, what are his chances for a possible run for a national office?

Well, except for his column at Manila Bulletin, Binay has been out of the political radar that his following may have decreased and his chances of being elected may have dimmed. A lawyer, Binay should concentrate on giving legal advice to those who seek help. This way, he may even get pogi points.

The filing of the certificates of candidacy is in October yet and probable candidates still have time to decide whether to stick it out with their political party or affiliation, or like the political butterflies they are known to be, switch to the "fragrant" political party. Hmmmn...