Nanoplastics are tiny bits that come from breaking down common plastics. These plastics are found in everyday items. The plastics are polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. Scientists put these plastics through simulated marine weathering for up to 10 weeks. This process changes the plastics' makeup, making them ox...

Plants are not just passive recipients of their environment. They actively interact with it, and sometimes, that interaction involves tiny plastic particles called polystyrene nanoplastics (Ps-NPs). These minuscule bits of plastic are everywhere, and scientists are still figuring out how they affect plants. One such plant under the microscope is tartary buckwheat. Th...

Minerals play a huge role in how tiny plastic bits move around in nature. These minerals are often found mixed with organic stuff, forming special teams called organo-mineral complexes. These teams act differently than the minerals alone. Two minerals that were studied are ferrihydrite and goethite. Goethite is what ferrihydrite turns into over time. Scientists look...

You might think polylactic acid (PLA) is a safe bet for the environment. After all, it's biodegradable and often touted as an "eco-friendly" alternative to traditional plastics. But hold on! Recent studies have found that PLA microplastics (PLA-MPs) could be causing trouble for male mice. Imagine if tiny, tiny pieces of plastic could find their way into the bloodstr...

Imagine tiny plastic particles, invisible to the naked eye, lurking in our soil. These micro- and nanoplastics are becoming a significant concern. Scientists are diving deep into understanding their impact on the environment. It's a new frontier in research, filled with knowledge gaps and challenges. Let's zoom in on the problem. Microplastics are pieces of plastic ...

You know those tiny pieces of plastic that pollute our oceans and rivers? They're not just a problem for the environment, but also for the creatures living in it, like zebrafish. We found out that when these little plastic bits, called nanoplastics, are very small (about 20 nanometers), they can do a lot of damage to zebrafish brains. Here’s what happens: these tiny...

Imagine tiny plastic bits exposed to sun's UV light. These bits, called nanoplastics, can change over time, affecting how they interact with metals like mercury. But what happens when these aged nanoplastics meet mercury, and how does it impact marine life? A study looked into this with a tiny crustacean named Tigriopus japonicus, over multiple generations. The rese...

Did you know that certain bacteria can help clean our water? One such bacteria is Bacillus subtilis, or B. subtilis for short. This little guy is special because it can trap tiny plastic particles, known as nanoplastics, while also processing nitrogen compounds in water. Scientists have been studying how well B. subtilis can do this job. Using powerful microscopes, ...