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17 results for "microplastics"
Cleveland is transforming Lake Erie into the world's largest digitally monitored freshwater lake with hundreds of sensor buoys tracking pollution in real time. The innovation is helping scientists tackle everything from toxic algae blooms to microplastics.
Scientists discovered their protective gloves were accidentally adding thousands of false plastic particles to pollution research. A chemistry team created new methods to fix contaminated data and help researchers avoid the mistake going forward.
An 18-year-old Virginia high schooler created a water filter that removes 95% of microplastics using magnetic oil. Mia Heller's invention needs no membranes or constant maintenance and recycles itself.
The federal government just announced a groundbreaking $134 million initiative to measure, track, and safely remove microplastics from human bodies and drinking water. Every tested human placenta contains plastic particles, but scientists are finally fighting back.
The EPA just took the first official step toward potentially regulating microplastics in America's drinking water. It's a process that could take years, but advocates say it's an important signal that the government is listening to public health concerns.
The federal government just announced a major initiative to study and monitor microplastics in drinking water across America. The $144 million program will develop tools to measure these tiny plastic particles and understand their impact on human health.
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An 18-year-old Virginia student created a self-cleaning water filter that removes nearly all microplastics without expensive membranes. Her invention costs less and requires almost no maintenance compared to traditional systems.
Scientists at the University of Waterloo have discovered how to transform plastic pollution into acetic acid using only sunlight and water. The breakthrough could help clean up microplastics while creating valuable chemicals without adding emissions.
Scientists at NYU Langone Health discovered small plastic fragments in most prostate cancer tumors they examined, with cancerous tissue containing twice as much plastic as healthy tissue. While the finding doesn't prove microplastics cause cancer, it highlights a potential health concern and the need for more research.
Three inventors in Ohio looked to the ocean for help cleaning up the ocean. Their washing machine filter mimics manta ray mouths to capture tiny plastic fibers before they reach waterways.
An Inuit scientist kayaking to Greenland's most remote glacier discovered car tire particles thousands of miles from the nearest road. Now he's building a coalition to tackle this invisible threat to Arctic communities.
A University of Missouri scientist engineered algae that attracts and removes microplastics from water while cleaning wastewater and creating useful bioplastic products. The breakthrough could transform how cities treat water and tackle plastic pollution.
While one-third of Pacific fish contain microplastics, new research reveals some island nations have cracked the code on keeping their waters clean. Vanuatu's fish show just 5% contamination, proving remote islands can protect their ocean food supply.
India's Tamil Nadu government is partnering with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to understand how microplastics in everyday food packaging affect human health. The groundbreaking study follows alarming research showing plastic compounds were found in the blood of newborn babies.
Researchers in Japan discovered where microplastics from farm fertilizer end up after years of puzzling over vanished ocean pollution. The breakthrough reveals that beaches act as temporary traps, catching plastic before it disappears into unknown ocean locations.
Researchers traced farm fertilizer coatings to beaches, solving part of the "missing ocean plastic" puzzle. The finding could help prevent millions of microplastic particles from entering our seas.
Scientists discovered that fiddler crabs in Colombia's polluted mangrove forests are breaking down microplastics at record rates, absorbing 16 times the concentration found in soil. While not a cure-all, the discovery reveals how nature adapts to human-made challenges in unexpected ways.