Today I learned that in the future we will have giant plastic eating worms that will solve the pollution problem – A sentence I never thought I would say out loud
A group of scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has developed an “artificial worm gut” that can break down plastics.
This new method could offer a more nature-inspired way to tackle plastic pollution, which is a major environmental problem.
The scientists isolated gut bacteria from worms and used them to break down plastics in the lab.
The bacteria were able to break down a variety of plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used in plastic bottles.
The new method is more efficient than traditional methods of plastic biodegradation, which often require high temperatures or long incubation times.
The artificial worm gut can break down plastics at room temperature in just a few days.
The scientists believe that their new method could be used to develop new products that can help to reduce plastic pollution. For example, they could be used to create packaging that can biodegrade after use.
The development of an artificial worm gut that can break down plastics is a significant breakthrough. It could offer a new way to tackle plastic pollution, which is a major environmental problem.
Some key points on this story:
- The scientists used a type of worm called the Eisenia fetida, which is commonly known as the red wiggler.
- The bacteria that the scientists isolated from the worms are called Enterobacter asburiae.
- The scientists believe that their new method could also be used to break down other types of waste, such as food waste and paper waste
