A novel threat to high technology

[iancampbell]

Todd - IIRC the oil-eating bacteria were found in the environment and merely cultured. It's somewhat logical that bacteria would naturally evolve to make use of this energy source, as natural oil seeps do exist - including ones on the ocean floor. If something wasn't eating the stuff, many of the world's beaches would be covered in tar.

I suppose that something like that must apply to the sort of hydrocarbons found in rubber, too. And it isn't all that unreasonable anyway, as some forms of fat bear a strong resemblance to oil in their structure. (Up to 24 carbons in a chain with an acid group on the end.)