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A plump larva the length of a paper clip can survive on the material that makes Styrofoam. The organism, commonly called a “superworm,” could transform the way waste managers dispose of one of the most common components in landfills, researchers said, potentially slowing a mounting garbage crisis that is exacerbating climate change. In a paper released last week in the journal of Microbial Genomics, scientists from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, showed that the larvae of a darkling beetle, called zophobas morio, can survive solely on polystyrene, commonly called Styrofoam. The findings come amid a flurry of research...

A time traveller has predicted that humans will be eating polystyrene balls in 2075. The man - known only as Kasper - claims the small, white pellets will be our daily meal in the future. Kasper told Apex TV: "I'm going to show you food, actual food, from the future. Here is actual food from year 2075." He then shows off a small jar filled with the pellets and suggests they will be enough nutrition for a day. He said: "These are individual capsules, and taking just one capsule allowed you to live for an entire day. You take one...

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has fought against smoking, big sugary drinks and salty food during his tenure, is setting his sights on a new foe: Styrofoam. Bloomberg plans to use part of his Thursday State of the City address to push for a ban on Styrofoam food packaging. He also will call for initiatives that would increase the number of parking spaces for electric cars and begin recycling more plastics and food waste "One product that is virtually impossible to recycle and never bio-degrades is Styrofoam ... something that we know is environmentally destructive and that may...

Pittsburgh was treated to an impressive show the week of the recent G20 conference. A nice assortment of military choppers of various types and missions, along with odder aircraft difficult both to identify and explain. Both police and the National Guard were out in force, with downtown nearly sealed off. None of this hardware was used against the "3,000 - 4,000" (more like a few hundred) anarchist demonstrators when they turned their righteous wrath on a dozen Starbucks and a Whole Foods store. No serious confrontation was expected and none occurred. Because all of it - the Guard troops, the...

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (KWMU) - A law taking effect this week could make criminals out of people who bring Tupperware onto many Missouri rivers. The law was intended to reduce the floating debris from discarded foam coolers. But lawmakers confused their chemistry and barred the wrong plastic. The white foam coolers commonly called "Styrofoam" are made from expanded polystyrene. But the law bars polypropylene instead. That's a plastic found dishwasher-safe plastic containers. The mix up means river floaters can use foam coolers without fear. But someone caught with a plastic container could risk up to a year in jail.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A proposed strategy for reducing ocean litter calls for a statewide ban on foam food containers, fees for using plastic and paper bags, and making producers responsible for the collection and disposal of packaging. The California Ocean Protection Council announced its plans (PDF [319KB]) earlier this month and voted on actions for preventing and reducing waste that could end up in the ocean. The state council also aims to change producer and consumer behavior with its three recommendations for reducing packaging waste: adopting extended producer responsibility, prohibiting certain items and charging fees for items that commonly become...