05 Nov. 2015.”These Plastic-eating Worms Could Be the Solution to
Pollution?” Discover. Seriously Science. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/seriouslyscience/2015/11/05/these-plastic-eatingworms-could-be-the-solution-to-pollution/#.VlJE0XarRD8>.
Plastic is generally bad for the environment because it does not biodegrade. However, scientists in California have recently discovered that a worm, the lowly mealworm, could possibly decompose plastic products. Its bacterial strains in its gut were found to be capable of breaking down polyethylene, the main factor in plastic products. This is great news for environmental issues concerning plastic and landfills because these worms could help clean-up excess garbage.
This could potentially be a very helpful and important discovery. A lot of the world, including California, has trouble with excess trash and materials that do not biodegrade. With these worms, I think there will be a way to reduce the trash levels in California and decompose many of the plastic products which have been prominent in our society. We will no longer have problems with using plastic bags at grocery stores because there will be a plausible way to reduce the plastic that is being consumed.
Wow this is very interesting: an organism who could possibly break down plastic and could very well contribute to a solution in the world’s growing problem of trash and pollution to the environment.
Agreed! Thanks for the comment.
It’s very interesting to hear about the discovery of an organism that can break down polyethylene and possibly clean up excess trash scientists have yet to fully dispose of. It seems a bit too good to be true.
I also think its too good to be true.