Scientists developed a method to create powerful microbial teams that can break down crude oil more effectively than single microbes. By using enrichment techniques with increasing oil concentrations, they created a streamlined consortium called GT4 that could degrade over 55% of crude oil in one week. The study identified key bacterial players including Microbacterium and discovered new bacteria like Paracandidimonas that can degrade oil, offering promising tools for cleaning up oil-contaminated environments.