Dolphins Are Exhaling Microplastics
New research highlights how extensive plastic pollution is—and how nonhuman species, including dolphins, are exposed......»»
Microplastics are in the air we breathe and in Earth"s atmosphere, and they affect the climate
Microplastics are found in the most remote places on land and in the ocean as well as in our food. Now several studies around the world have confirmed they are also present in the air we breathe......»»
How Airborne Microplastics Affect Climate Change
Like other aerosols, these tiny particles scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing Earth’s temperature -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Microplastics May Be Cooling—and Heating—Earth’s Climate
Tiny bits of plastic are swirling in the sky, and a new model suggests they could be subtly affecting the climate......»»
Microplastics in belugas worked their way up food chain, researchers find
Microplastics are being found in even the most remote waters, say Simon Fraser University researchers who studied how the particles ended up in the stomachs of beluga whales through prey......»»
Researchers engineer microorganisms to tackle PET plastic pollution
From overflowing landfills to floating garbage islands in the oceans to microplastics in remote wilderness areas, billions of tons of discarded plastic have created a global pollution crisis......»»
Research shows how plastics threaten biodiversity of marine life
New research at Queen's University highlights the impact that microplastics are having on hermit crabs, which play an important role in balancing the marine ecosystem. .....»»
More microplastics are entering the ocean from disposable masks
The enormous surge of face-mask use since the beginning of the global lockdown in March 2020 has saved countless human lives, a crucial component to limiting the transmission of the novel coronavirus. But with 129 billion masks being consumed globall.....»»
Emerging environmental contaminants of concern in NZ dolphins
Scientists have revealed emerging environmental contaminants of concern within New Zealand dolphins, with similar pollution levels to Japan despite government restrictions on the use of toxic substances......»»
Eliminating microplastics on farmland
In many countries, farmers and gardeners use mulch films to increase their crop yields. The films are often made of polyethylene and can be used to control weed growth, soil temperature and water consumption. Unfortunately the petroleum-based materia.....»»
US bans swimming with Hawaii"s nocturnal spinner dolphins
U.S. regulators on Tuesday banned swimming with Hawaii's spinner dolphins to protect the nocturnal animals from people seeking close encounters with the playful species......»»
Baby Poop Is Loaded With Microplastics
An alarming new study finds that infant feces contain 10 times more polyethylene terephthalate (aka polyester) than an adult’s......»»
Infants have more microplastics in their feces than adults, study finds
Microplastics—tiny plastic pieces less than 5 mm in size—are everywhere, from indoor dust to food to bottled water. So it's not surprising that scientists have detected these particles in the feces of people and pets. Now, in a small pilot study,.....»»
Maritime rope could be adding billions of microplastics to the ocean every year
The hauling of rope on maritime vessels could result in billions of microplastic fragments entering the ocean every year, according to new research......»»
Setting nets below the surface means fishermen catch almost 80 percent fewer dolphins and whales
Lowering gillnets into the water—instead of using them on the surface—can lower the chances of tuna fishermen accidentally hauling in dolphins and whales, according to new research led by Florida International University and World Wildlife Fund (.....»»
Faroe Islands mass dolphin slaughter casts shadow over tradition
Every summer in the Faroe Islands hundreds of pilot whales and dolphins are slaughtered in drive hunts known as the "grind" that residents defend as a long-held tradition......»»
Outcry as Faroe Islands slaughter 1,400 dolphins in a day
The government of the Faroe Islands, an autonomous Danish territory, faced an outcry on Tuesday over the culling of more than 1,400 white-sided dolphins in a day in what was said to be the single biggest hunt in the northern archipelago......»»
Dolphins Eavesdrop on Each Other to Avoid Awkward Run-Ins
The new finding underscores the complexity of marine mammals’ social life and cognition. It may also help save the snoopy cetaceans......»»
Humans aren"t the only species whose metabolisms tend to slow down with age
If you feel like your metabolism just isn't what it used to be, no matter how many hours you spend in the gym, dolphins can relate......»»
Science alone won"t save humpback dolphins
There are fewer than 500 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) remaining in South African waters. Science alone will not bring them back from the brink of extinction—we also need a multi-stakeholder Conservation Management Plan to boost th.....»»
Microplastics: A trojan horse for metals
The fact that microplastics can accumulate organic pollutants from the environment and transport them has been known for some time. What is new, however, is that metals can also be transported in this manner. In addition, the smaller the particles, t.....»»