Microplastics found deep in the lungs of some surgical patients. And in freshly fallen Antarctic snow. Scientists are keen to find new ways to break down our plastic waste. Researchers in Spain have found that saliva from the larvae of waxworms can break down some of the toughest types of plastic.
Plastic pollution is damaging the health of the environment, wildlife and us. It has been found on remote islands, in Antarctic snow and in human blood, breast milk and lungs. Alongside rapidly reducing how much plastic we produce, we also need to find new ways to tackle the waste we have created. Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, about the discovery of an enzyme that can rapidly break down plastic bags – found inside the saliva of wax worms – and where else we might find solutions in the natural world. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod