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Category: Pollution

Can citizen science improve marine debris monitoring efforts?
Human impacts Plastic Pollution

Can citizen science improve marine debris monitoring efforts?

Public cleanup efforts should be useful for monitoring debris on our coastlines, but these efforts can lead to low-quality data…
February 25, 2022February 23, 2022 Kayla Mladinich
Mitigating microplastic pollution through ballast water treatment
Plastic Pollution

Mitigating microplastic pollution through ballast water treatment

By making a small change to existing ballast water treatment systems, we have a chance to tackle microplastic pollution.
January 27, 2022January 28, 2022 Cindy Lebrasse, Ph.D.
Plastic pollution in the time of COVID-19 pandemic
Pollution

Plastic pollution in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic are not just confined to public health and the economy, they extend to the environment.
December 8, 2021December 7, 2021 Jiwoon Park
Scratching the surface: Microplastic distribution in the surface layer of the world’s ocean
Plastic

Scratching the surface: Microplastic distribution in the surface layer of the world’s ocean

Researchers have developed a dataset of microplastics in the ocean surface waters across the globe.
October 26, 2021October 31, 2021 Kayla Mladinich
Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?
Biodiversity Biological oceanography Biology Human impacts Plastic Science Communication

Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?

Citation: Ward JR, Lafferty KD (2004) The Elusive Baseline of Marine Disease: Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing? PLoS Biol…
August 23, 2021August 30, 2021 Krti Tallam
Incidental Ingestion: Do fishes intentionally swallow microplastics?
Plastic

Incidental Ingestion: Do fishes intentionally swallow microplastics?

Microplastics in our oceans are a growing problem, but how do fishes investigate and interact with these particles?
August 10, 2021 Francesca Giammona
How many microplastics are in your body? An insight into lifetime accumulation
Biology Chemistry Hazards Human Health Plastic Pollution

How many microplastics are in your body? An insight into lifetime accumulation

Microscopic plastics have been found anywhere and everywhere, including in the food we eat. With plastic pollution on the rise,…
July 30, 2021July 30, 2021 Kayla Mladinich
Are biodegradable plastics too good to be true? Here’s what actually happens to them in the ocean
Pollution

Are biodegradable plastics too good to be true? Here’s what actually happens to them in the ocean

“Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment!” You might have heard this a lot, but is this true? Do biodegradable…
June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 Jiwoon Park
The disastrous effects of an oil spill: A tale of Mauritius vs. MV Wakashio
Ecology Hazards Human impacts Pollution

The disastrous effects of an oil spill: A tale of Mauritius vs. MV Wakashio

Does Mauritius ring a bell? This tiny Indian Ocean Island was hit by the worst oil spill it had ever…
May 28, 2021May 28, 2021 Cindy Lebrasse, Ph.D.
Sea lions and seals and PFAS, oh my: Location still matters for Australian pups
Pollution

Sea lions and seals and PFAS, oh my: Location still matters for Australian pups

I recently found myself falling down a chemical pollutant rabbit hole. Every news source seemed to be shouting “PFAS chemicals…
May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 Kristin Huizenga
Let them eat plastic – Animals eating microplastic could choke the ocean
Plastic Pollution

Let them eat plastic – Animals eating microplastic could choke the ocean

Plastic pollution may bring to mind big images - dead birds, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and beaches filled with…
April 30, 2021 Kristin Huizenga
Fish feed on ocean plastic… but are they really only eating plastic?
Pollution

Fish feed on ocean plastic… but are they really only eating plastic?

Pretty much any plastic product is made from plastic pellets. However, billions of pellets have now made their way into…
April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 Jiwoon Park
Living Life to the Fullest: Enzyme Activity of Two African Mussel Species
Biochemistry Biological oceanography Chemistry Human impacts Physiology Pollution

Living Life to the Fullest: Enzyme Activity of Two African Mussel Species

Every day, our body performs a plethora of activities. We breathe, exercise, eat food, think, and socialize. Behind all of…
March 29, 2021 Daniel Speer
Can Green Algae Capture Microplastics in the Great Lakes?
Biology Human impacts Lakes Plastic

Can Green Algae Capture Microplastics in the Great Lakes?

Microplastics (specifically microfibers) can adhere to the cell walls of the green algae Cladophora, potentially removing them from the water.
March 19, 2021March 18, 2021 Hannah Collins
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes in Seahorse Hormones
Biochemistry Biology Ecology Human Health Human impacts Pollution Toxicology

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes in Seahorse Hormones

While we already know that plastics are harmful to the environment, do you ever really think about how they can…
March 17, 2021March 17, 2021 Cierra Braga
The Otter Guys: How heavy metal pollution affects Alaskan northern sea otters
Pollution

The Otter Guys: How heavy metal pollution affects Alaskan northern sea otters

Most pollution is clearly visible in nature, but some types are very subtle. In the case of heavy metal pollution,…
March 15, 2021March 15, 2021 Francesca Giammona
Oxygen Minimum Zones: Should we be worried?
Biology Climate Change Harmful Algal Bloom Pollution

Oxygen Minimum Zones: Should we be worried?

Reviews and syntheses: Present, past, and future of the oxygen minimum zone in the northern Indian Ocean It is no…
February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Saumya Silori
Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans
Biological oceanography Climate Change Evolution Human impacts Microbiome Plastic

Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans

Plastic is abundant in the ocean ecosystem. Not only is it harmful to marine animals, but as scientists discovered, it…
January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Tiny Human-Engineered Particles Damages Marine Life
Pollution

Tiny Human-Engineered Particles Damages Marine Life

Nanoparticles exist everywhere in our lives – on the fabric of your clothing, the makeup you wear, the display of…
January 18, 2021January 17, 2021 Jiwoon Park
‘Out of Sight’ Can’t Mean ‘Out of Mind’
Coastal Management Plastic Pollution

‘Out of Sight’ Can’t Mean ‘Out of Mind’

Surface marine debris and microplastic pollution has received more attention recently—which is great—but there’s another garbage problem we are only…
January 13, 2021 Andrea Schlunk

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