Scheikunde


is Dutch for Chemistry, and literally means "Separation Science".  Now, if one has a carpet made of 85% polypropylene and 15% wool, how does one go about separating them?

Have no fear!  Nature already has a solution.  I found these cocoons (about half a centimetre long) on the surface of said carpet, and decided to look at them under a video microscope.  This is what we saw:

VIDEO


As you can see, these caterpillars emerged from the cocoons and resumed their analysis, selectively removing the wool fibres from the polypropylene matrix. 

(Note: to pronounce "scheikunde" correctly, the "s" and the "ch" as in Scottish "loch" are distinct consonants.  If you find this difficult, it is better to make the first syllable sound like "sky" rather than "shy".)