Science

3155 readers

1 users here now

General discussions about "science" itself

Be sure to also check out these other Fediverse science communities:

https://lemmy.ml/c/science

https://beehaw.org/c/science

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Sal@mander.xyz

fossilesque@mander.xyz

Scientists find lesser mealworm's potential to combat plastic waste (news.cgtn.com)

submitted 1 week ago by not_now_kitten@lemmus.org to c/science@mander.xyz

1 comments fedilink hide all child comments

According to Khamis, this is the first time that the African native smaller mealworms' ability to decompose plastics has been recorded.

She stated that while Africa generates only 5 percent and uses 4 percent of global plastic, there is an increase in the usage of single-use plastic, making the continent the second most polluted.

Khamis said scientists tested the ability of the lesser mealworm to consume polystyrene, one of the major microplastics that is fast accumulating both in land and water bodies.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago

Maybe one day plastic processing plants could use larvae to eat the waste. We’re already using microbes in this way, so why not extend the same idea to larger creatures.