Bee nest linings could inspire plastics that break down in soil

AI Summary

Scientists studying bee nest linings have identified a natural material that could inform plastics designed to break down in soil more quickly. The research offers a possible response to persistent plastic waste, which accumulates in landfills and the environment.

Hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastics are produced every year, and most of them end up sitting in landfills or polluting natural environments after use. These plastics endure for dozens to hundreds of years. But some scientists are on the lookout for solutions to this problem. And now, one team of researchers might have found a potential solution in bee nests. Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that a natural plastic made by bees may offer design lessons for plastics that degrade naturally in far less time.