Core Viewpoint - Plastic waste poses a significant environmental threat, and recent research from the Kunming Institute of Botany has provided insights into the ecological effects and degradation processes of plastic in the "plant-soil" system, offering new directions for addressing pollution [1][4]. Group 1: Microplastic Hazards - Microplastics, particularly those with smaller diameters, have been found to cause severe harm to soil and crops, with 75-micron polyethylene microplastics leading to a 1%-1.5% decrease in organic carbon and nitrogen content in soil [2][3]. - The same microplastics increased carbon dioxide emissions by 88.55 mg per kg of soil and nitrous oxide emissions by 1.01 mg per kg, resulting in a 177% increase in the soil's global warming potential [2]. - Crop growth was adversely affected, with a 48% reduction in seed germination rates and a 30 cm decrease in plant height, leading to a 50% drop in biomass and grain yield for corn treated with 75-micron polyethylene microplastics [2]. Group 2: Research on Plastic Degradation - The research team is exploring the degradation of plastic waste in the "plant-soil" system, focusing on the potential of microorganisms to break down plastics, particularly a fungus called "Iranian hairy two-spore fungus" [4][5]. - In a 60-day experiment, this fungus demonstrated a significant ability to degrade polyurethane, reducing its weight by 11.05% and molecular weight by 19.10% [4]. - The findings provide a theoretical basis for developing fungal-based bioremediation technologies, presenting a nature-based solution to the global plastic pollution crisis [5].