Research
Bees make a natural plastic that starts breaking down in soil within months
Earth.com · By Sanjana Gajbhiye ·
The Brief
- The bee Colletes inaequalis makes a plastic-like material that it uses to line the inside of its underground nest.
- According to Earth.com, the material starts breaking down in soil within months.
- Conventional plastic can remain in the environment for centuries, per the article's framing.
Why it matters
The material offers a natural model for plastic-like substances that degrade in soil far faster than conventional plastics, which is relevant to biodegradable materials research.
Who’s affected
- materials scientists
- environmental researchers
- #bees
- #biodegradable plastics
- #biomaterials
- #soil
- #environment
A plastic wrapper may be useful for a few minutes, then stay in the environment for centuries. But a small bee makes a plastic-like material that starts breaking down in soil within months. The bee, Colletes inaequalis , uses it to cover the inside of its underground nest. The…