"Artificial Superworm Gut Breaks Down Problem Plastics"

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, have developed an artificial worm gut to break down plastics by isolating the gut bacteria of superworms and using them to accelerate plastic biodegradation. By feeding worms with different plastic diets and incubating their gut microbiomes in flasks, the researchers demonstrated a method to boost plastic-degrading bacteria, potentially offering a nature-inspired solution to the global plastic pollution problem. This study lays the foundation for developing biotechnological approaches that use worms' gut microbiomes to process plastic waste, with future research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of plastic degradation.