Collaborate Disseminate
The mountain of plastic waste making its way into the ocean each year is undoubtedly impacting marine life, and bit by bit scientists are starting to understand the extent of these potentially disastrous effects. A new study out of the UK has revealed … Continue reading Study finds microplastics can impair hermit crabs’ shell selection
Two new studies by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are shedding new light on plastic waste in the Antarctic. Based on 30 years of extensive surveys of marine debris ingested by sea birds or washed up on Bird Island at South Georgia and Signy Island … Continue reading 30-year survey assesses plastic problem in the Antarctic
Efforts to improve on today’s battery technology has scientists turning to all sorts of materials, and in some cases these might come from the eco-friendly end of the spectrum. A new technology out of Purdue University is a shining example of this, wit… Continue reading Microwaves convert plastic into key battery component in two minutes
Understanding the extent of our plastic pollution problem is incredibly difficult, largely because the corrosive forces of the ocean break the waste into tiny fragments which are nearly impossible to track. Scientists have again found evidence of these… Continue reading Microplastics show up in Antarctic sea ice for the first time
There is a lot to learn about how plastic waste moves through the marine environment, but researchers are continually coming up with new ways of tracking its path. A study by scientists in Italy has shone a light on the way lobsters digest plastic part… Continue reading Lobsters found to grind plastics down into “secondary microplastics”
We’ve been hearing more and more about eco-friendly biodegradable plastics, made from cellulose nanofibers. Although those fibers are typically harvested from wood waste, new research shows that they could also be obtained from mega-plentiful used coff… Continue reading Another possible use for coffee grounds: Biodegradable plastic
There is a whole lot of plastic pouring into the ocean every day, and whole lot we don’t know about the damage it causes. Looking to fill in these blanks is a team of Duke University scientists, who have found that fish subjected to high concentrations… Continue reading Microplastics found to cause aneurysms, reproductive changes in fish
One of the real and dangerous consequences of plastic waste making its way into ocean is the increasing threat it poses to marine life. Sea turtles are one example of a creature that regularly consume these pieces of trash for dinner, and a new study o… Continue reading “Olfactory trap” lures sea turtles into eating plastic waste
Plant-based bioplastics are already a more eco-friendly alternative to their petroleum-based counterparts. Now, scientists have created a clear bioplastic film that not only blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation, but that is also more airtight than trad… Continue reading UV-blocking bioplastic is also super-airtight
One particularly disconcerting consequence of our huge plastic pollution problem is that we really have no idea where the stuff can end up. The latest locale to surprise scientists looking into such matters is the Arctic Circle, who say that … Continue reading Arctic snowfall found to carry tiny fragments of plastic