Plastic is a global problem, with microplastics having been found in every corner of the planet and even inside human tissue. However, there may be one tiny creature that may help, as native African mealworm larvae have been found to be capable of eating and breaking down polystyrene.
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00:00Plastic is a global problem, with microplastics having been found in every corner of the planet
00:09and even inside human tissue.
00:11However, there's one tiny creature that may help, as native African mealworm larvae have
00:15been found to be capable of eating and breaking down polystyrene.
00:20Polystyrene is more often called styrofoam, and it's made from plastic and used for all
00:23kinds of consumer and industrial packaging.
00:26It is difficult to recycle, as the methods of doing so are both expensive and create
00:30other pollutants, which is why researchers have been on the lookout for other better
00:34ways, and these guys might just be the key.
00:37Scientists have discovered that the larvae of the Kenyan lesser mealworm can both chew
00:40through and their gut bacteria can process styrofoam.
00:44Researchers found that when a polystyrene diet was supplemented with a nutrient-dense
00:47brand side dish, the insect larvae could survive and were also efficient at breaking down the
00:51packaging material.
00:53In addition, the researchers also looked at the insect's guts, finding a veritable cornucopia
00:57of bacteria, all known to be able to digest complex materials, including ones that are
01:03synthetic.