Well, this is it… we’re living in the future. Researchers at Boise State might have just discovered a solution to a major environmental problem. Boise State scientists have been working hard to find a solution to the plastic problem affecting our environment. According to the United Nations, it can take up to 1,000 years for plastic to break down. That gives the plastic plenty of time to destroy the environment by choking wildlife, poisoning the soil, and destroying natural habitats.