If the researchers can pinpoint the exact microorganisms responsible for this incredible feat, they may be able to replicate the process and engineer more efficient and powerful digestive enzymes.
As research engineer Wei-Min Wu from Stanford University said: "Our findings have opened a new door to solve the global plastic pollution problem.”
In the U.S. alone, more than 33 million tons of plastic get dumped into landfills each year, and less than 10% of that waste is recycled. The plastic can then pollute soils and waters, threaten marine ecosystems, and polystyrene foams like Styrofoam can take more than a million years to decompose, according to the EPA.