Microplastics and nanoplastics pose growing environmental and health concerns, yet their formation pathways remain unclear. This research compiles data from nearly 300 studies to model plastic degradation and identifies key roles of plastic type and weathering process. Lab experiments reveal mechanical wear can directly generate nanoplastics, improving risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Marine debris severely harms ocean ecosystems, yet most cleanup focuses only on floating waste. This research develops underwater robots equipped with specialized computer vision to detect and remove submerged trash. By training algorithms for challenging underwater conditions, the work enables safer, scalable cleanup operations and supports long-term ocean preservation.

This research examined Antarctic soils for microplastics and found contamination near human activity at Scott Base and Cape Evans, but none in the remote McMurdo Dry Valleys. The findings reveal one of the last microplastic-free environments and highlight how clothing choices and human presence influence even Earth’s most pristine ecosystems.

Microplastics are increasingly found in human bodies, driven by everyday plastic use such as milk bottles. This research examines why consumers continue choosing plastic and identifies systemic barriers to reusable options. By improving affordability, convenience, and incentives, sustainable choices can become the default rather than the exception.

This research quantifies plastic use in U.S. agriculture, revealing 1.6 million metric tons used annually across crops and products. By identifying major sources and challenges to recycling, the work aims to guide sustainable alternatives, reuse, and recycling strategies that balance environmental, economic, and social needs in farming.

This research examines how real-world microplastics and nanoplastics affect human brain immune cells. Using plastics from everyday consumer items, it shows rapid cellular stress and mitochondrial damage linked to neurodegenerative disease. The findings suggest current laboratory studies may underestimate the true health risks of chronic plastic exposure.

Fast fashion creates massive environmental damage through synthetic fibres, textile waste, and microplastic pollution. This research develops Ioncell, an eco-friendly, closed-loop technology that dissolves cellulose materials and regenerates durable, biodegradable fibres. It also enables recycling of cellulose textile waste, offering a promising sustainable alternative to synthetic fibres and reducing global textile pollution.