Microplastics

August 27, 2023

UBC’s Game-Changing Discovery: Can Plants Really Trap 99.9% of Microplastics?

Microplastic pollution, a looming environmental threat, might have met its match in the form of plants. UBC scientists have innovatively harnessed the power of wood dust and tannins to trap up to

Representative Image. Chewing Gum, Photo Credits: Mike Pham

Health

Chewing Gum Releases Up To 3,000 Microplastics Per Stick Says UCLA-Led Study

Modern life is complex. To release tension, we tend to resort to some device. Chewing gum is one of these devices. Cricketers are seen having a chewing gum while playing. But this seemingly harmless chewing gum can shed microplastics into

April 14, 2025

Microplastics Found in Human Brains Surge 50% in 8 Years, Linked to Dementia

Health

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine has uncovered a startling discovery: human brains contain significantly more plastic particles than previously known, with levels

Barents Sea’s Unspoken Challenge: The Microplastic Invasion in Arctic We Can’t Ignore

Climate·Plastic·Pollution·Science

Today, when the heartbeat of our oceans is intertwined with the pulse of our climate, scientists have pinpointed ocean currents, melting ice, burgeoning tourism,

Representative Image: There is not only a lot of plastic waste floating in the oceans, which is washed up on beaches around the world, but also large quantities of microplastics. Photo Source: Christopher Politano/Pexels.com

Ocean·Plastic·Pollution

Oceans Absorb 15% of Airborne Microplastics, Challenging Previous Beliefs

New research has flipped our understanding of how microplastics move through our environment. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology have discovered that oceans capture microplastics from the air rather than

Govind Tekale

March 16, 2025

Representative image. Cleaning the Dishes - Washing a Plate. Photo Source: Ryan Lee (CC BY 2.0).

Pollution

Washing Up Liquid: Chemicals and Plastic Pollution Impact

Environmental experts are sounding the alarm about washing up liquid, pointing to both its ingredients and packaging as sources of significant environmental harm. New warnings highlight how everyday dishwashing habits might be

Govind Tekale

March 7, 2025

Plastic

Mealworms Consume 150 Microplastic Particles Each in 30 Days

A recent study by University of British Columbia researchers reveals mealworms can consume and process microplastics from face masks, presenting a possible biological approach to tackle the growing microplastic pollution crisis. Dr.

Rahul Somvanshi

December 30, 2024

Caption:To combat global micronutrient deficiency crises, MIT researchers developed novel materials that protect fragile nutrients under harsh cooking and storage conditions. The microparticles seen here are made of biodegradable polymers that dissolve in the stomach to release encapsulated vitamins and minerals. Credits:Credit: Linzixuan (Rhoda) Zhang, David Mankus, Dhruv Varshney, Ruiqing Xiao, Shahad Alsaiari, Abigail Lytton- Jean, Robert Langer, Ana Jaklenec

Beauty·Plastic

MIT’s Biodegradable Polymers Aim to Replace Microplastics in Beauty Products

In a development that could reshape the beauty and personal care industry, MIT chemical engineers have created biodegradable polymers to replace microplastic beads found in cleansers and cosmetics. These new materials break

Karmactive Staff

December 18, 2024

Caption: Representative Image. Field covered in Plastic Bags and other trash. Photo Source: Sohail Nawaz (Pexels)

Plastic·Pollution·World

Global Plastic Treaty Blocked: 200 Nations Fail to Act as Microplastics Surge and Output Hits 736 Million Tons by 2040

Approximately 200 nations participating in a United Nations-sponsored meeting in Busan, South Korea, failed to reach an agreement to stop plastic pollution after two years of negotiations, though they secured guarantees for

Karmactive Staff

December 6, 2024

Plastic·Pollution·Technology

Device Detects Microplastics in Water in Minutes, Uncovering Millions of Nanoparticles in Disposable Cups

A research team at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has developed a portable device that can detect microplastic particles in water within 20 minutes, addressing growing concerns about plastic contamination in

Karmactive Staff

December 1, 2024

Health·Plastic·Pollution

Microplastics and PFAS Combine to Create Toxic Effects Threatening Aquatic Life and Ecosystems

New research from the University of Birmingham has exposed concerning evidence about the combined effects of two persistent pollutants – microplastics and PFAS chemicals. The study found that when combined, these substances

Karmactive Staff

November 28, 2024

Plastic·Pollution·Science

Microplastics to Graphene in 60 Seconds: How Scientists Turned 30 mg of Plastic into 5 mg of High-Value Material

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia have developed an innovative method to transform harmful microplastics into valuable graphene. The research, led by Professor Mohan Jacob and

Rahul Somvanshi

October 25, 2024

Colourful plastics may lead to more microplastics: new study. Photo Credits: University Of Leicester

Plastic·Pollution·Science

Study Reveals Red, Blue, and Green Plastics Degrade into Microplastics Quickly—What You Need to Know

As the world is gradually gripped by the effects of climate change and man made blunders, researchers have warned that brightly coloured plastics—red, blue, and green—are more dangerous than plain colours. This

Bilal Bhuttoand

Karmactive Staff

June 3, 2024

Plastic·Science·Technology

Microscopic Robots Capture 80% of Waterborne Microplastics and Bacteria – See How They Work

When plastic waste breaks down, it becomes even more difficult to remove from oceans and bodies of water. Microplastics have also infiltrated the food chain and can bind bacteria that may cause

Rahul Somvanshi

May 28, 2024

1 2 Next