Earthworms secret finally exposed by scientists

Earthworms are one of the most important species on our planet. They break down dead and decaying food matter and bring it underground with them. By doing this they recycle carbon back into the soil and make the earth a habitable place for us. For years no one knew how earthworms broke down plants that contained polyphenols, essentially a plants defense mechanism against predators. Researchers recently discovered molecules called drilodefensins which can digest plant toxins and make the plant matter useful to worms. Dr. Liebeke, a researcher that led this project, estimates that for every human on earth there is 1 kg of drilodefensins that are present in earthworms. 

This, to me, seems like a huge amount of drilodefensin. However, when you consider the vast amount of organic matter that worms digest and how important they are in soil ecology, this number becomes very reasonable. I find this study to be fascinating because it shows that even though we know so much about the plants and animals that inhabit our planet there is always some mystery that needs to be solved by researchers.

A typical picture of an earthworm.