Three studies reveal widespread microplastic contamination in the Amazon, finding particles in stream fish gills and digestive tracts, trapped by aquatic plants, and raising concerns for air-breathing fish.
A new Nature Food study highlights that while diverting food waste from landfills cuts climate impacts by up to 99%, it risks increasing agricultural soil contamination from microplastics due to imperfect packaging separation.
High levels of microplastics and plastic contamination were discovered in a Turkish waterway near an Adana recycling hub supplied with British waste, raising agricultural and food safety concerns.
RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
16-year-old Canadian student Evan Budz created an AI-powered robot turtle with 94% accuracy in detecting microplastics underwater. Inspired by snapping turtles, his invention earned him the Gordon E. Moore Award and a US$50,000 scholarship at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Physicists at the University of Liège have developed a method using 3D-printed structures to sculpt water surfaces, creating "landscapes" that can guide floating objects like microplastics for water purification or precise industrial assembly.
A study by the University of Vienna's Department of Meteorology and Geophysics, published in Nature, has refuted the long-held belief that oceans are the primary source of airborne microplastics. Analyzing 2,782 atmospheric samples from around the world, researchers found land-based sources—particularly tyre abrasion and synthetic textile fibres—contribute approximately 20 times more microplastics to the atmosphere than ocean-based sources. The study also revealed prior models overestimated microplastic prevalence by several orders of magnitude.
