An end to the world’s worries regarding how to dispose of plastic waste. Scientists have discovered a worm that eats plastic. Researchers at the Australian University of Queensland have discovered a species of worm that feeds on polystyrene, which might revolutionize plastic recycling.
Environmental damage caused by plastics that do not dissolve in the soil and do not burn is not a minor headache for mankind. Scientists say the discovery of plastic-eating organisms in a state where even the ocean is full of non-recyclable plastics is considered a major revolution.
Scientists at the university have discovered that the larvae of Sophobas morio Darkling beetles have bacterial gut enzymes for these superworms. Enzymes that feed on plastic are found in large quantities in their bodies.
This was discovered in a three – week experiment using superworms by Chris Ring and his team from the UK’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences. The experiment was performed by giving different diets to different groups. A few worms were given polystyrene. Others were given bran. The rest were not given any food.
He said that he survived by eating polythene and was found to be in good health. Rinke said. Rinke added that super worms are like mini recycling plants and they eat plastic well. The research team found several enzymes in the gut of the super worm. Their gut has the ability to destroy polystyrene and styrene. The above are the plastics used in takeaway containers and other plastic items such as insulation and car parts. They have the ability to digest it.
At the same time, these findings explain that although plastics are a favorite food, it is not a nutritious or healthy food and can affect their health.
Earlier, scientists had discovered worms inside the plastic. Waxworms, commonly found in hives, have been found to be the first to feed on plastic. They can be easily eaten even by polyethylene, which is usually difficult to cut. Researchers believe that they can eat plastic faster because of special enzymes in their saliva. Through these, they easily attack the plastic chemical bonds. That is, it is assumed that the wax in the hive will be digested in the same way as the plastic.
Federica Bertocch, a biologist and amateur beekeeper, discovered the ability of the wax worm to eat plastic while cleaning her hive. When they were temporarily placed in a plastic shopping bag, it turned out that they were eating the bag. Subsequent experiments at the University of Cambridge proved this to be true. Within 12 hours, 92 mg of plastic was completely eaten away.
Previous experiments with bacteria have shown that they can eat only 0.13 mg of plastic. It took 24 hours. Researchers at the Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria also collaborated with researchers at Cambridge for this experiment. They showed by spectroscopic analysis that these worms might break the chemical bonds in plastic.
English Summary: Historic discovery: worm-eating plastic found
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