Scientists tested how plastic pollution in cow dung affects a common beetle species known for cleaning up animal waste. They found that when cow manure contains tiny plastic pieces—even in small amounts—it can seriously harm beetle babies. The beetles’ larvae struggled to survive when exposed to hig
Every time a car rolls over a wet street, tiny bits of rubber fly off the tires. These microplastics don’t just float away. They change shape, break into smaller pieces, and latch onto other chemicals already stuck to them. Scientists wanted to see what happens when these tire bits get ground down e
In cities, the air isn’t just made of oxygen and dust. It carries invisible bits of plastic—some so small they can travel deep into our lungs. These tiny plastic pieces, called inhalable microplastics, don’t just float around randomly. New research shows their numbers change throughout the day and d
Scientists tested what happens when tiny plastic fibers and a common insect killer show up together in the water where young tilapia live. Over six weeks, fish exposed to both pollutants grew less and ate food less efficiently than fish exposed to just one or none at all. Their guts showed damage to
The world is full of tiny plastic pieces, but how they travel between land and sea is still a mystery. Scientists set up air samplers at seven different heights over the southern Caspian Sea and also used a vacuum pump to pull in air for two months. They collected samples from the coast, from the
A new Netflix series claims that tiny plastic particles are shrinking men’s genitals and killing sperm. It follows five couples who try to stop using plastic for three months and then report more babies. The program sounds like a reality show, not science. The host is an epidemiologist who talks ab
The quick review looked at how scientists catch tiny plastic particles in city air and then figure out what they are. They pulled data from 35 research papers that used active sampling—devices that pull air through filters—to measure how much plastic people might breathe. The papers showed that ac
Scientists collected tiny plastic fragments that float in three coastal areas, each with a different mix of ships and tourists. They focused on polyethylene pieces because it is common in the sea. Using a technique that shines infrared light onto the plastic, they recorded how the molecules vibrate.
Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces that are causing big problems in our environment. Scientists are working hard to find ways to break them down using a process called photocatalytic degradation. However, there is a big issue. There are no standard ways to test and compare these methods. This mak
A legal battle has kicked off over the safety of Ziploc bags. A woman from California is suing the company that makes them. She says the bags release tiny plastic bits when you microwave or freeze food in them. The lawsuit claims the company is misleading people by not warning them about this. The
