Ocean Pollution
New research shows that very small quantities of ingested plastic can be fatal to marine life, with an Atlantic puffin facing a 90% chance of death from less than three sugar cubes' worth. The study, based on over 10,000 necropsies, highlights risks to seabirds, turtles, and mammals in oceans polluted by millions of tons of plastic annually. Findings also link similar plastics to human health issues like heart disease.
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Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have discovered bacteria in the ocean that digest PET plastic using specialized enzymes marked by a unique M5 motif. These microbes, found in nearly 80% of global ocean samples, represent nature's adaptation to human pollution. The findings could aid efforts to develop efficient plastic recycling solutions.