A research group at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has developed an efficient process for breaking down any plastic waste to a molecular level. The…
Polystyrene persists in the environment for millennia, according to some international governmental agencies. This estimate is based on the amount of time required for microbes…
A study published by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows that polystyrene, one of the world’s most ubiquitous plastics, may degrade in decades…
MIT alumna addresses the world’s mounting plastic waste problem. It’s been nearly 10 years since Priyanka Bakaya MBA ’11 founded Renewlogy to develop a system…
From the Great Pacific garbage patch to inland rivers, plastics are among the most widespread contaminants on Earth. Microplastics—particles of plastic smaller than five millimeters—are…
Delicate wash cycles in washing machines found to release more plastic microfibers than other cycles. New research led by Newcastle University has shown that it…
Many people are trying to reduce their plastic use, but some tea manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction: replacing traditional paper teabags with plastic…
Army research looks at pearls for clues on enhancing lightweight armor for soldiers. Round, smooth and iridescent, pearls are among the world’s most exquisite jewels;…
While collecting water samples and plankton in Tampa Bay, researchers discovered a high concentration of microplastics, which are known to disrupt the marine food chain….
Plastics in our waste streams are breaking down into tiny particles, causing potentially catastrophic consequences for human health and our aquatic systems, finds research from…
Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed nonliving, synthetic materials that can heal and regenerate in a way that is reminiscent of some living…
Chemical engineers at UMass Amherst have discovered a high-yield method of making plastic bottles from biomass. By using a zeolite catalyst capable of transforming glucose…
Yale undergraduates participating in Yale’s Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory course had their findings on organisms capable of degrading polyurethane published in the journal Applied and…
Polyurethane is one of the most commonly used plastics in different types of products, but it’s also one that takes an extremely long period of…