All posts in Plastics
Microplastics affect the ability of algae to produce energy
Algae showed a 50% decline in net photosynthesis when exposed to higher levels of microplastic pollution.
‘Biofuels’ from discarded plastics pose health risks
You don't have to use the plastic-based fuel to be exposed to its fumes; simply living near a factory can be a risk.
In just two decades the amount of microplastics has tripled on the seafloor
Once deposited, degradation is minimal so plastics from the 1960s onwards remain on the seabed.
Airborne microplastics are another serious air pollution hazard
"The smaller the size ranges we looked at, the more microplastics we saw," a scientist says.
Turning hard-to-recycle polyethylene into drug treatments
USC scientists say their new method breaks down polyethylene plastic into agents used to develop antibiotics, cholesterol drugs and more.
We need to reconfigure plastic usage with ingenuity
Reducing plastic waste requires thoughtful, yet bold steps. Where to start?