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Category: Plastic

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
‘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
Biological oceanography Biology Ecology Fisheries Plastic Pollution

Plastics and Colors and Fish, Oh My!

Have you ever wondered what happens to the garbage that ends up in the ocean? Or about what just might…
December 22, 2020 Cierra Braga
The plight of the mangrove
Coastal Management Plastic

The plight of the mangrove

Celine E.J. van Bijsterveldt, Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck, Sri Ramadhani, Olivier V. Raven, Fleur E. van Gool, Rudhi Pribadi, Tjeerd…
December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 Brandy Biggar
Don’t get ~tide~ down: Are biodegradable nets a good solution to the ghost fishing problem?
Fisheries Human impacts Plastic

Don’t get ~tide~ down: Are biodegradable nets a good solution to the ghost fishing problem?

Biodegradable nets are a potential solution to the ghost fishing problem-or the phenomenon of lost fishing nets still catching animals.…
November 25, 2020November 23, 2020 Hannah Collins
Can Pacific Oysters handle a bit of microplastics in the lab? Shuck yeah!
Biological oceanography Plastic

Can Pacific Oysters handle a bit of microplastics in the lab? Shuck yeah!

Filter feeding animals like oysters can be exposed to small plastic particles, called microplastics, as they filter food out of…
October 28, 2020October 28, 2020 Hannah Collins
Microplastics, Canned Fish, and You: How plastic pollution may play a role in your next lunch
Conservation Human impacts Plastic Pollution

Microplastics, Canned Fish, and You: How plastic pollution may play a role in your next lunch

Did you know that many plastic items can shed tiny particles called microplastics? These microplastics are present everywhere in our…
October 26, 2020May 31, 2022 Francesca Giammona
Life in Plastic: 14 Million Tonnes of Microplastics Likely on Sea Floor
Plastic

Life in Plastic: 14 Million Tonnes of Microplastics Likely on Sea Floor

The deep-sea floor has always fascinated scientists and ocean lovers alike with its mystery and wonder. For the first time…
October 26, 2020October 26, 2020 Elena Gadoutsis
Ocean plastic pollution damages bacteria that help us breathe
Plastic Pollution

Ocean plastic pollution damages bacteria that help us breathe

Every minute, we are dumping a garbage truckload of plastic litter into the ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean are…
September 21, 2020September 22, 2020 Jiwoon Park
SURFO Special: Scouting out marine plastics on the shores of Guam
Plastic Pollution

SURFO Special: Scouting out marine plastics on the shores of Guam

Plethora of plastic pollution! Every year, large amounts of plastic are being deposited into our oceans as a direct result…
September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Is There Plastic in Paradise?
Plastic

Is There Plastic in Paradise?

Tropical islands like the Maldives have always been viewed as untouched paradises for most people, but what lies beneath the…
August 28, 2020August 28, 2020 Elena Gadoutsis
Menacing microplastics hamper hermit crab choices
Plastic Pollution

Menacing microplastics hamper hermit crab choices

How can little bits of plastic in the ocean impact a hermit crab's ability to make decisions? Microplastics can be…
June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 Julia Zeh
Is our plastic dependence accelerating climate change?
Climate Change Plastic Pollution

Is our plastic dependence accelerating climate change?

  Reference: Royer, Sarah-Jeanne, Sara Ferrón, Samuel T. Wilson, David M. Karl. “Production of methane and ethylene from plastic in…
May 18, 2020 Brandy Biggar
You are what you eat: Microplastics travel from food to the brain
Plastic Pollution

You are what you eat: Microplastics travel from food to the brain

Oceans are full of microplastics. These tiny plastic particles end up in the stomach of marine animals. Now, scientists have…
December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 Anastasia Yandulskaya
Biogeochemistry Book Review Climate Change Coastal Management Hazards Human Health Human impacts Plastic Pollution

Sunlight May Stimulate Breakdown of Ocean Plastic

A new study suggests that one form of plastic might not take as long to break down in the ocean…
October 25, 2019 Emily Chua
Traces of human plastic pollution in ocean sediment
Plastic Pollution

Traces of human plastic pollution in ocean sediment

Is the plastic we produce being stored in our oceans’ sediments? To answer this question scientists studied a sediment core…
September 25, 2019September 25, 2019 Samantha Setta
Giant Clams vs. Small Plastics
Plastic

Giant Clams vs. Small Plastics

Microplastics are found all throughout our oceans. But in the Red Sea, there are a lot less. Find out how…
September 16, 2019October 6, 2019 Constance Sartor
A boon to ocean conservation? Certain fungi can degrade marine plastics
Plastic Pollution

A boon to ocean conservation? Certain fungi can degrade marine plastics

Brunner I, Fischer M, Ru ̈thi J, Stierli B, Frey B (2018) Ability of fungi isolated from plastic debris floating…
November 26, 2018 R J Parker
Plastic Pollution

There’s plastic in your tap water, beer, and table salt

Kosuth M, Mason SA, Wattenberg EV (2018) Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt. PLoS ONE 13(4): e0194970.…
October 26, 2018November 2, 2018 R J Parker
Turtles in the Trash: How microplastics are washing up where turtles breed
Plastic Pollution

Turtles in the Trash: How microplastics are washing up where turtles breed

Like plastic bags and other larger plastic pieces, these insidious micro particles can make their way into animal digestive tracts…
August 7, 2018 Kristin Huizenga

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