“A promising find. Plastic-recycling worms discovered in Africa November 14, 11:30 a.m. Share: A study by scientists at the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya found that these tiny insects can digest about half of the polystyrene they eat ( Photo: ICIPE) Author: Kira Borysikhina Scientists have made an amazing discovery: the larvae of the Kenyan flour beetle are able eat and process polystyrene. Read also: Big”, — write on: ua.news
A study by scientists from the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya found that these small insects can digest about half of the polystyrene they eat (Photo: ICIPE)
Scientists have made an amazing discovery: the larvae of the Kenyan flour beetle are able to eat and process polystyrene.
This discovery could be a breakthrough in solving the global problem of plastic pollution.
Research conducted by scientists from the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya, showed that these small insects can digest about half of the polystyrene eaten. At the same time, their digestive system remains healthy, and the bacteria living in the intestines play a key role in the process of plastic decomposition.
The scientists suggest that this discovery could have revolutionary implications for the fight against plastic pollution, especially in Africa, which suffers from one of the most serious plastic pollution problems in the world.
The secret of mealworms’ ability to process plastic lies in their intestines. Bacteria living in the intestines of these insects produce special enzymes that are capable of breaking down the complex polymers that make up plastic. Scientists plan to study these bacteria in more detail and understand how they interact with plastic.
The scientists’ discovery opens up new perspectives for solving the problem of plastic pollution. Plastic recycling with the help of mealworms can become a more environmentally friendly and economically beneficial way of disposing of plastic waste. In addition, the biomass obtained from the processing of plastic by mealworms can be used as animal feed.
Scientists plan to continue research in this direction. They want to find out which types of bacteria are involved in the decomposition of plastic, how to increase the efficiency of this process, and how to use the obtained results to develop new technologies for processing plastic waste.
The discovery of the ability of African mealworms to recycle plastic is an important step forward in the fight against one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time. This research opens up new opportunities for creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.