Molecular biologist Federica Bertocchini accidentally made a discovery that could be the solution to plastic trash. It has been observed that waxworms can naturally destroy plastics.
While new solutions are constantly being developed against plastic waste, one of the biggest threats of our time, a new one has joined these today. Scientists say that plastic thrown into nature able to naturally disappear made a great discovery.
According to the study published in the journal Nature, plastic in nature is ‘wax worm‘ can be destroyed with the help of According to scientists, some enzymes found in this worm species can only be found at room temperature in “polyethylene”, which is widely used in many plastic products. It is destroyed in a few hours.
The discovery was purely accidental:
These enzymes, which will destroy the polyethylene used in bags and packaging, were actually discovered by chance. Molecular biologist who is also an amateur beekeeper Federica BertocchiniOne day, he saw that the beehive he had put in the warehouse was full of wolves. Bertocchini then collected these worms and put them all in a plastic bag.
But soon after, Bertocchini, looking at the bag again, that the bag is full of holes he saw. After this incident, Bertocchini and his team began to study wolves. In the examination, it was seen that two enzymes named ‘Demetra’ and ‘Ceres’ oxidized polyethylene.
Other creatures that can destroy plastic have also been discovered before:
Waxworms did not go down in history as the first creatures to destroy plastic. In 2016, scientists discovered a bacterium that could destroy polyester in a landfill in Japan. In 2021, some microbes and bacteria were discovered that live in the oceans and soil and have evolved to digest plastic.
RELATED NEWS