Some interesting and positive news, for a change. Scientists have found microbes that can digest plastics in low temperature, in 15 degrees Celsius. Many found microorganisms can do the same but in higher temperature, in above 30 degrees Celsius. This new discovery could be an important breakthrough in microbial recycling.
Read the full story on The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/10/microbes-digest-plastics-low-temperatures-recycling
Recently there have been some good and bad news regarding world oceans. At the beginning of this month member states of the United Nations finally agreed on a treaty to protect international waters (1). According to a recent study there is a “growing plastic smog” of more than 170 trillion particles floating in the world’s oceans – there has been a “rapid increase” of plastic particles in the oceans since 2005 (2). A new research stated that rapidly melting ice in the Antarctic “is dramatically slowing down the flow of water through the world’s oceans and could have a disastrous effect on global climate, the marine food chain, and even the stability of ice shelves” (3).
Read the full stories:
1) “High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN” The Guardian 5.3.2023
2) “Study shows ‘a growing plastic smog’ in the ocean of 171 trillion particles” The Hill 9.3.2023
3) “Rapidly melting Antarctic ice could affect oceans ‘for centuries’” Al Jazeera 30.3.2023
IDIS Observer 