Could the solution to plastic pollution be found inside the mouths of tiny wax worms?
From the poles to the depths of the oceans, plastic is a major pollution issue across the whole world.While efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse plastic are slowly making progress, there are few options when it comes to the very sturdy polyethylene material.
In their paper they show that this key step of getting oxygen into the polymer can be achieved within an hour of the plastic being exposed to the saliva of the larvae. "What we found was that the enzymes alone can oxidise plastic, which is the process that takes such a long time in the environment," he told BBC News.
The researchers say the larvae's destructive abilities when it comes to beeswax may provide an explanation of their capacity for PE degradation.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Houthis Warn Oil Firms To Leave Saudi Arabia And The UAE | OilPrice.comYemen's Houthis have warned oil companies operating in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to pack up and leave as the warring sides in the Yemeni conflict failed to reach an agreement to extend the six-month truce.
Read more »
Andrew Marr: 'Discipline is breaking down' among Tories as trouble spreads to Cabinet'Discipline is breaking down' among the Tories as trouble spreads to the Cabinet, Andrew Marr has said.
Read more »
Changing Leeds - How Kirkgate Market rose from the ashes in the 1970sIt is the Leeds gem which has had a tough life with scars to prove it.
Read more »
COP27: Activists 'baffled' that Coca-Cola will be sponsorClimate activists say Egypt should reverse its decision because of Coca-Cola's plastic pollution.
Read more »
FIA in a no-win situation, regardless of F1 cost cap rumoursBe it this year, next year or beyond, the FIA should brace themselves for criticism and appeals when their first cost cap punishments are issued - simply because they have never done this before. ✍️ HenryValantine
Read more »
Businessman hits out as thieves target premises 'every year' ahead of HalloweenCCTV has captured the thieves breaking into the premises on two separate occasions
Read more »