Ocean Cleanup video artfully depicts demise of Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Ocean Cleanup has a huge task on its hands in ridding the seas of plastic waste, but a sleek new video offers a compelling look at its latest plan of attack. The animation shows massive trash-collection barriers sweeping through the Great Pacific G… Continue reading Ocean Cleanup video artfully depicts demise of Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Study shows nanoplastics can travel from plants to insects to fish

We already know that tiny waterborne plastic waste particles can enter the bodies of fish, which are then consumed by humans. New research, however, shows that such particles can enter the food chain via another route, by traveling from the land, throu… Continue reading Study shows nanoplastics can travel from plants to insects to fish

Ocean Cleanup study states Pacific Garbage Patch is mostly fishing gear

Marine plastic pollution is a major environmental problem, as exemplified by the enormous Great Pacific Garbage Patch. According to a new study conducted by the Ocean Cleanup project and Wageningen University, the majority of plastic waste in that patc… Continue reading Ocean Cleanup study states Pacific Garbage Patch is mostly fishing gear

Study reports a big reduction in plastic waste on Australian beaches

Although there’s no doubt that marine plastic waste pollution is a major environmental problem, there may be at least a small sliver of hope. According to a new study, plastic trash on Australian beaches has actually decreased by almost a third in rece… Continue reading Study reports a big reduction in plastic waste on Australian beaches

Tentsile’s new hanging shelters feature fabric made from ocean plastics

Tentsile has built an impressive stable of suspended sleeping shelters and hammocks since launching its very first tree tent in 2012, and its latest creations land with a particularly green tinge. The company has dropped a new tent and hammock combo th… Continue reading Tentsile’s new hanging shelters feature fabric made from ocean plastics

Robotic marine trash collector starts making waves in Hong Kong

Back in November 2020, startup Open Ocean Engineering launched an autonomous trash collector aimed at clearing plastic waste from harbors, lakes and canals. After partnering with games titan Razer last year for a radical redesign, a sleeker Clearbot ha… Continue reading Robotic marine trash collector starts making waves in Hong Kong

Microplastics found to spread deadly land-based pathogens far out to sea

The way plastic moves through the environment and endangers living organisms is of great concern to scientists, and a first-of-a-kind study has unearthed disconcerting new information on both these fronts. The authors have demonstrated that the type of… Continue reading Microplastics found to spread deadly land-based pathogens far out to sea

AI-enabled drones will tell human teams where to find marine debris

Marine debris is a huge problem, both when it’s floating at sea and when it gets washed up on the shore. In order to locate the latter for removal, scientists are now developing artificially intelligent drones which will spot human-made beach trash fro… Continue reading AI-enabled drones will tell human teams where to find marine debris

Coastal creatures found living aboard floating trash in the open ocean

Some of the ways plastic waste is reshaping the marine ecosystem are quite insidious, such as the tiny particles that organisms can consume and send traveling up the food chain. Others are plain to see, such as the larger pieces of trash that form the … Continue reading Coastal creatures found living aboard floating trash in the open ocean

Plant-based biodegradable glitter sparkles without the microplastics

Glitter spruces up everything from makeup to craft projects, but one thing it doesn’t improve is the environment. Researchers at Cambridge University have now developed a biodegradable glitter that swaps out the plastic and aluminum for plant-based cel… Continue reading Plant-based biodegradable glitter sparkles without the microplastics