The Worm's Turn on Plastics

[Jim Koepke]

Interesting story of how wax worms have an enzyme in their saliva that breaks down polyethylene.


Meet Dr. Federica Bertocchini, a Spanish biologist doubling as an amateur beekeeper. While cleaning out her hives, she noticed hive-damaging worms eating the beeswax and started to remove them. After tossing the worms into a plastic bag, she spotted small holes in it. Dr. Bertocchini examined the holes, and realized that the worms were feasting away at the plastic! Her biologist instincts kicked in, spurring her to bring the worms into a lab.
The Galleria mellonella larvae, also known as the “wax worm,” can seemingly “eat” polyethylene, one of the longest-lasting plastics that is very simple to make but hard to break down.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/12/learning/natures-solution-to-plastic-pollution-the-amazing-power-of-the-wax-worm.html

jtk

[Bruce Wrenn]

Along another side note, Researchers at NCSU have isolated a bacteria that can digest pizza boxes, turning them into compost. There are drop boxes located on campus just for pizza boxes.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I hope that is a hopeful counterpoint to this story.

https://news.yahoo.com/scientists-disturbing-discovery-almost-protein-100000630.html

[Roger Feeley]

Didn’t the life form in “The Andromeda Strain” eat plastic?

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Didn’t the life form in “The Andromeda Strain” eat plastic?

Only long enough to kill that pilot by eating his O2 mask. Then the strain eloved...

[Lee Schierer]

While wax worms may eat plastic, they sure make a mess in a bee hive eating wax.