‘We are heading towards a climate disaster’

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

‘We are heading towards a climate disaster’

Our greatest partner in the ****** against the climate crisis could be the tiny buzzing insects we often swat away. *********** scientists have discovered a way to genetically engineer the ****** soldier fly to consume more of our organic waste and reduce harmful pollutants.

According to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, this development could increase the fly’s beneficial qualities by expanding their abilities to process waste and produce useful byproducts.

The flies are naturally capable of consuming waste faster than microbes. By modifying them, researchers at Sydney’s Macquarie University aim to expand the range of waste the larvae eat, increase their ability to process pollutants, and, as a bonus, make them produce valuable fatty compounds and enzymes.

We produce about

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

of food waste per year around the world. As this waste decomposes in landfills, it releases planet-warming methane into the air.

Kate Tepper, a lead author of the research team’s scientific

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, said, “We are heading towards a climate disaster, and landfill waste releases methane. We need to get that to zero.”

The genetically modified fly will be able to consume more organic waste, then break down pollutants into less toxic compounds or even evaporate them into the air.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

One of the research team’s largest goals with these developments is to create a circular economy, a system that reuses waste to produce valuable products.

The scientists are enabling the flies to produce fatty compounds, which could be used to manufacture lubricants and biofuels. The flies will also produce enzymes for animal feeds, pharmaceuticals, and textiles — all of which could generate income.

The team aims to have their first genetically engineered flies at a waste facility by the end of this year.

While our waste problem is immense, solutions like this contribute to a safer future for us all in which we have cleaner air and more security with our resources. Scientists are working to reduce food waste, turn waste into energy, and find renewable energy sources.

To make a positive impact in your own home,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

what you can and switch to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

for everyday products. Trying

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

and metal

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

is a great place to start.

Researchers have discovered an alarming amount of plastics and microplastics in our oceans and ecosystems. By making small changes at home, we can each do our part to reduce waste and help the environment.

Join our

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#heading #climate #disaster

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up