Researchers used a wave tank to study the movement of plastic particles experimentally and to understand the role of particle density in drift behavior.
plastics
Below the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: More Garbage
New research is finding there’s more to marine debris than just what appears near the ocean surface, including tons of microplastics extending hundreds of meters into the deep.
Tear, Don’t Cut, to Reduce Microplastics
Laboratory experiments reveal the numbers and types of microplastics produced by tearing, scissoring, and cutting everyday items.
Bill Calls for Dramatically Cutting Plastic Pollution
With just 8% of plastic waste in the United States currently being recycled, the bill aims to set up an effective plastic recycling program and limit single-use plastic.
Mixed Reviews for Bill to Curb Ocean Plastics Pollution
Although the Save Our Seas supporters include industry and the Ocean Conservancy, some environmental groups say the legislation won’t solve the problem.
How Are Microplastics Transported to Polar Regions?
New modeling indicates that global subsurface ocean currents distribute submerged microplastics along very different routes than those traveled by floating plastic debris.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Swim Nears Conclusion
Long-distance swimmer Ben Lecomte seeks to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the ocean.
Rivers Are a Highway for Microplastics into the Ocean
New research shows that rivers are the main road for all the plastic pollution that gets into the ocean, including microplastics.
Plastic Fragments Found for the First Time on a Glacier
The discovery, made in the Italian Alps, confirms the ubiquity of plastic pollution worldwide.
Satellite Imagery Reveals Plastic Garbage in the Ocean
Using high-resolution satellite data, scientists pinpoint discarded plastics floating off the coasts of Canada and Scotland.