{
  "id": 6771847,
  "title": "Breaking down shoe foam by genetically tweaking a microbe found in compost",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/breaking-down-shoe-foam-by-genetically-tweaking-a-microbe-found-in",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-11T15:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-foam-genetically-tweaking-microbe-compost.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Your favorite pair of tennies, kicks or trainers may soon become a little more sustainable. In a study published Sept. 11 in the journal Chem Catalysis, researchers developed a new kind of enzyme based on a bacterium found in compost that can degrade the polyurethane material in shoe foams. The results could one day help recycle plastic waste from shoes, mattresses, kitchen sponges and more.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}