Scientists have now utilized that fact to produce "living plastic" that biodegrades – but only under specific conditions. Spores are a dormant form taken by some types of bacteria, typically ...

Plastic waste is piling up at a daunting pace around the world. The World Bank estimates that every person on the planet generates an average of 1.6 pounds (0.74 kilograms) of plastic waste daily.

Human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years prior, according to a preprint posted online in May. A preprint is a ...

When it comes to heating up food, it’s generally recommended that you avoid microwaving stuff in plastic containers. But while many people are aware that this isn’t an ideal way to heat up ...

Who knew cracking open a plastic bottle could ruin your week? This once simple act now comes with a side order of drama. Try ...

Watch the CBS Reports documentary, "Advanced Recycling: Does Big Plastic's Idea Work?" in the video player above. HOUSTON, Tex.—When the news crew showed up outside a waste-handling business ...

In 2019, an agency within the U.S. Department of Defense released a call for research projects to help the military deal with the copious amount of plastic waste generated when troops are sent to ...

A green accounting method called “mass balance” certifies that something was manufactured with recycled plastic — just not necessarily much of the bottle making the claim. By Julie Creswell ...

Using bacteria to take a bite out of plastic pollution is not new. But can the same microbes be used as a food source? In 2019, an agency within the U.S. Department of Defense released a call for ...

Despite the planet’s growing plastic pollution crisis, petroleum-based polymers have become an integral part of modern life. They make cars and airplanes lighter and more energy efficient.

In normal conditions, the spores remain dormant, ensuring the plastic's stable performance. However, when exposed to specific triggers like surface erosion or composting, the spores activate and ...

They had participants switch from drinking from glass and plastic bottles to drinking from the tap only. Their reasoning was simple: Plastic bottles shed microplastic, tiny pieces of plastic that ...