Artist imagines fungi-made organ to extract microplastics from humans

Designer Odette Dierkx has conceptualized a futuristic fungi-based prosthetic called the "79th Organ," intended to filter and break down microplastics inside the human body. Drawing on research that certain mushrooms, such as Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), can digest plastics, this living organ uses fungal mycelium to enzymatically degrade microplastics through bioremediation. The organ would extract microplastics from the bloodstream, breaking them into harmless components, effectively acting as a detox system for pollutants the body cannot naturally process. Dierkx envisions this innovation as a necessary adaptation by 2110, reflecting the growing severity of plastic pollution and its infiltration into human health. The 79th Organ is designed with a domed capsule shape featuring internal gills and attaches to the lower abdomen via suction. It includes a magnifying glass to observe microplastic processing and a contamination dial to alert users to pollution levels. Dierkx has imagined multiple versions tailored to