Innovative Artificial 'Worm Gut' Developed to Combat Plastic Pollution

Scientists at NTU Singapore have created an artificial gut mimicking superworms' microbiomes, significantly enhancing plastic degradation.

A team from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, has engineered an artificial 'worm gut' to accelerate the breakdown of plastics.
The artificial gut is based on the microbiomes of Zophobas atratus worms, known for their ability to digest plastics.
This breakthrough could offer a scalable, efficient solution to the global plastic pollution crisis.
Researchers found that the artificial gut's microbiomes showed a significant increase in plastic-degrading bacteria.
The next steps involve understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the bacteria's plastic degradation capabilities.