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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

This caterpillar can digest plastic

Wax-moth larvae could inspire biotechnological methods for degrading plastic.
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Holes in plastic bags containing wax moth (Galleria mellonella) caterpillars tipped off researchers that the creatures can break down plastic. César Hernández/CSIC

Researchers who were using plastic bags to carry caterpillars have discovered that one species can digest polyethylene, a ubiquitous plastic that is one of the toughest to break down.

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Nature 545, 8 (2017)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-017-00593-y

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