correction
A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Styrofoam multiple times based on the research paper cited. The article should have said plastic foam or foam; Styrofoam is a trademark for a construction material. The article has been corrected.
A plump larva the length of a paper clip can survive on the material that makes plastic foam. 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.
