Plastic
California Passes Sweeping New Plastic Waste Law
The legislation requires that all packaging in the state must be recyclable or compostable within ten years
Polystyrene-Eating 'Superworms' May Provide Clues for Better Recycling
Scientists find enzymes in the gut microbiome of beetle larvae that can degrade one of the most widely used plastics
In a First, Microplastics Are Found in Fresh Antarctic Snow
The research highlights the extent of plastic pollution and transmission even in remote regions of the world
National Parks Aim to Phase Out All Single-Use Plastics by 2032
Visitors to the iconic U.S. sites will see utensils and cups made from biodegradable, compostable and recycled materials
At Least 85 Percent of U.S. Plastic Waste Went to Landfills in 2021
Only five percent of the material was in the correct condition to be recycled
Microplastics Detected in Human Blood in New Study
Researchers found plastic in the blood of 17 of 22 of study participants, or about 77 percent
Octopuses Are Reusing Human Trash as Shelter
In crowdsourced images, the cephalopods were observed making refuse their home, even using the junk as a place to lay eggs
The Future of Recycling May Be in Microbes
An enzyme-based recycling technology is poised to go commercial, but questions about cost and scalability linger
After 25 Years at Sea, Shipwrecked Lego Pieces Are Still Washing Ashore on Beaches in England
In 1997, a cargo ship was struck by a rogue wave. Among 62 shipping containers aboard, one contained five million plastic toy bricks
Scientists Can Spot Shrimp Eggs From Space
By analyzing the light it reflects, scientists can say whether that floating blob in a satellite image is made up of shrimp, seaweed or something else
Plastic-Degrading Enzymes May Be Increasing in Response to Pollution
One in every four organisms in the microbiomes they surveyed carries a plastic-degrading protein sequence
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Hosts Life in the Open Ocean
Coastal plants and animals are thriving on the plastic debris, posing potential ecological risks
Scientists Made an Eco-Friendly Plastic Using DNA From Salmon Sperm
The material requires 97 percent less carbon emissions to make than petroleum-based plastics
This Apparel Company Wants to Have a Profound Effect on Your Energy Use
LifeLabs Design was founded by a pair of Stanford professors who have developed fabrics capable of cooling and warming the wearer
Discarded Tires Are 'Ghost Fishing' Hermit Crabs
New research suggests these shell-swapping crustaceans are vulnerable to becoming trapped inside human debris
This New Installation Pulled 20,000 Pounds of Plastic From the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The trash collection device dubbed 'Jenny' could help address overwhelming marine plastic pollution
McDonald's Will Offer More Sustainable Happy Meal Toys by 2025
New prizes will be made from renewable, recyclable plastics and cardboard in a shift away from using plastic made from virgin fossil fuels
Plastics Make Beaches Hotter During the Day and Colder at Night
A study of remote islands shows that debris alters sand temperatures
Baby Poo Has Ten Times More Microplastics Than Adult Feces
The small pilot study included fecal samples from ten adults and six infants in New York state
With Ropes and Nets, Fishing Fleets Contribute Significantly to Microplastic Pollution
Synthetic ropes release 'substantial amount' of plastic particles into the sea during each use, according to new research
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