WORLD of biology 95

WORLD of biology 95

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Dear friends this page is concerned with biological & medical events and processes.

19/11/2025

Bones of skull

05/10/2025

Male vs female Pelvis

20/09/2025

2,000 caterpillars just did what nature takes centuries to do — they consumed a plastic bag in 24 hours.

In a striking discovery, scientists have found that waxworm caterpillars—larvae of the greater wax moth—can chew through a standard polyethylene grocery bag in just 24 hours.

These “plastivore” insects don’t just shred plastic; they actually digest and metabolize it, converting it into body fat.

Given that polyethylene is the most widely produced plastic on Earth, with over 100 million tons made annually, this biological feat presents a compelling glimpse at a potential natural solution to the global plastic waste crisis.

However, the breakthrough comes with a biological catch: a plastic-only diet is lethal to the caterpillars, causing them to die within days. Researchers are now testing dietary supplements—like sugar—to keep the insects alive and active.

The long-term vision includes mass-rearing waxworms to manage waste or isolating the enzymes or microbes responsible for their plastic-eating powers for use in industrial applications. While waxworms alone won’t solve plastic pollution, they offer a powerful proof of concept that nature may already have the tools we need—we just have to harness them responsibly.

Source: These 'plastivore' caterpillars can devour a plastic bag in just 24 hours. ScienceDaily, August 27, 2025.

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