Speculative Bioengineered Organs
The 79th Organ Envisions a Future of Microplastic Detoxification
Amy Duong — October 9, 2025
The 79th Organ by designer Odette Dierkx imagines a bioengineered implant that filters and breaks down microplastics through fungal mycelium. It exists at the intersection of biology and design, suggesting a future where environmental repair becomes a physiological function. Rather than remaining purely speculative, the concept bridges ecological anxiety and scientific possibility, presenting a quietly plausible adaptation to a polluted reality. By merging organic tissue with synthetic residue, it reflects how inseparable human life has become from the materials it creates.
The project proposes several forms, from utilitarian to child-oriented iterations, emphasizing the social dimension of innovation. It invites reflection on how far humanity may go to survive within its own waste, and whether technological adaptation can ever truly restore balance to the systems it disrupts.
