Scientists at Australia’s University of Queensland have now discovered that superworms — the larvae of Zophobas morio darkling beetles — are eager to dine on the substance, and their gut enzymes could hold the key to higher recycling rates. Rinke and his team fed superworms different diets over a three week period, with some given polystyrene foam, commonly known as styrofoam, some bran, and others not fed at all. Next, the team used a technique called metagenomics to analyze the microbial gut community and find which gene-encoded enzymes were involved in degrading the plastic. Bio-upcyclingOne way to put the findings to use would be to provide superworms with food waste or agricultural bioproducts to consume alongside polystyrene. READ: All washed up: furloughed Londoner finds fortune in the ThamesJPVSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 10, 2022 06:21 UTC