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Gross plastic-eating superworms scientists hope could help to save the planet
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Scientists are claiming a plastic-eating 'superworm' could help to save the planet with its weird dietary requirements.
The catchily named Zophobas morio worm can live off a diet of polystyrene, it has been found. Enzymes found in the larvae's gut can break down plastic.
Instead, the enzymes in the worm's gut are being looked at by scientists, who hope that recreating it or investigating it further could be extremely useful.
The theory is that plastic can be shredded by machines before the worm enzyme is used to treat the plastic and breaking down.
Otherwise, plastic items like toothbrushes can take up to 500 years to break down according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), or not break down at all.
How good would that be for tackling plastic waste....  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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We could stop producing plastic, you know like altogether, just stop, and while there is a gazillion tonnes of it floating about get Elon to take it up into space and fire it at the sun, who knows |
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We've banned useful stuff like carrier bags & plastic straws that performed a task. I reused every carrier bag I had anyway.
Yet nobody mentions kids toys & the horrendous amounts of small plastic parts, wrappings, ties, poly bags & seals which is all waste. Somehow this is OK. Why beats me, it's never brought up on the news etc.
Paper straws are shit, they go soggy too quickly. Bring back the plastic ones please! |
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