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STYROFOAM-EATING WORMS

'Can nature help to solve the global plastic pollution problem?'

Research by Ker Neng Peh on March 2020
Research project published on 17th Venice Architecture Biennale Italian Pavilion

An ongoing study by Stanford engineers, in collaboration with researchers in China, shows that common mealworms can safely biodegrade various types of plastic. Mealworms have microorganisms in their guts that can biodegrade polyethylene, a plastic
used in filmy products such as trash bags. The new research on mealworms is significant because Styrofoam was thought to have been non-biodegradable and more problematic for the environment. 
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The series of photos and videos show that Mealworms chow down on expanded polystyrene foam and convert almost half of what they eat into carbon dioxide and biodegradable waste. Mealworms will find their way to munch the styrofoam. Its unpredictable movement creates interesting results (Holes). With the help of computational tools, it can stimulate/track the trail of the movement. 
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According to mealworms behavior, a new dynamic building facade typology was innovated and discussed. As mealworms prefer darker areas, they have less appetite during summer due to the strong sunlight; it will produce fewer holes and reduce the sunlight penetration. In contrast, they will eat more during winter as they prefer darkness. They need moisture to survive and thus direct light can infringe upon their preferred habitat. So, more holes will be open to allow more sunlight to penetrate. 
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''Only we humans make waste that nature can’t digest”. Words by Charles Moore, oceanographer(2009). Hopefully, with this latest research, we can gradually transform plastic waste into something meaningful with the help of nature and without harming them.

As the research is undergoing investigation, the worms for the experiment were not recommended to be released back to nature. The worms were processed properly after the experiment.

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