Cellophane bees' nest linings could inspire biodegradable plastics

Researchers tested nests of a common North American cellophane bee. The nests stayed flexible for the first four months, began cracking after about seven and started to crumble within a year. Why the bee-made polyester degrades faster than synthetic polyester is unknown. One possibility is that its molecular structure lets water break chemical bonds, potentially offering a way to make synthetic plastics more biodegradable.