Worms Eat Plastic Waste
Scientists have discovered that “superworms” — the larvae of a darkling beetle (Zophobas morio) — can eat and digest plastic using powerful bacteria in their gut.
These worms were able to survive for weeks on a diet of polystyrene (the plastic found in foam cups and packaging) thanks to special gut microbes like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria break the plastic into smaller compounds, converting it into energy for the worms.
Researchers from the University of Queensland confirmed this ability using genetic and chemical tests.
Rather than dumping worms in landfills, scientists now hope to extract and engineer these enzymes to break down plastic pollution on a massive scale. This breakthrough could help solve the world’s growing plastic crisis — using nature’s tiny recyclers!
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