Hawaii teen finds fungi in coconut husks that can biodegrade plastic

In a groundbreaking project, a Hawaii teen has discovered that fungi living in coconut husks can biodegrade plastic and sunscreen. The discovery came about when Kaiya Wang, a senior at Kaiser High School, began working on a high school project to clean polluted ocean water. Her project aimed to use coconut waste as a filter to remove microplastics and sunscreen from seawater. However, her research took an unexpected turn when she discovered the potential of naturally occurring fungi in coconut husks.

The fungi in the coconut husks were able to break down the pollutants trapped in the filter, providing a dual solution to the problem of plastic pollution and sunscreen contamination in marine environments. This discovery is significant as plastic pollution is a major environmental issue, and traditional methods of waste management are often not effective in removing the pollutants once they have entered the environment.

Wang's research was recognized at the 2026 Hawaiʻi State Science & Engineering Fair, where she received numerous awards, including first place in the Microbiology category and third place overall. Her work has also earned her a place at the International Science & Engineering Fair, highlighting the potential impact of her findings.

Further research is needed to fully understand the capabilities of these fungi and how they can be harnessed to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Nonetheless, this discovery offers a promising new avenue for environmental research and could potentially lead to new methods for cleaning up marine environments.