New Study Finds Polyester Fibers Throughout the Arctic Ocean
we wear might add to this onslaught? Evidence increasingly shows that tiny synthetic fibers are permeating the Arctic Ocean and finding their way into zooplankton, fish, seabirds and marine mammals.In a new study published in Nature Communications, my colleagues and I find a stark confirmation that microplastics are found throughout the Arctic Ocean from Europe to the North Pole and the North American Arctic. Their presence raises concerns that textiles, laundry and municipal wastewater may be an important source of these emerging pollutants.Extensive Arctic sampling and in-depth analysisOur research was
WMU PhD Candidate Ambrose Wins Goldman Environmental Prize
pollution and to educate young people on the importance of a clean and healthy ocean. The international jury selected Ambrose for her extraordinary leadership, operating outside of the traditional power structures and marshaling science, advocacy and youth empowerment to get The Bahamas focused on plastics, including convincing the government to enact a nation-wide single-use plastic ban. The nationwide ban went into effect in January 2020 and can be considered a model for Islands and Island States worldwide.Ambrose joined WMU in September 2020 to undertake a PhD focused on plastic pollution as part
Soil Research Unearths Collecting Point for Plastics
research, conducted by scientists from KAUST, UC Berkeley, Edith Cowan University, the University of Barcelona, the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, Aarhus University, KFUPM, and IAU details how core samples collected from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf demonstrate a pattern of sedimentation of plastics. The sediment samples align closely with the history of global production of plastics, a trend that has increased exponentially since the midpoint of the 20th century.Mangroves are highly efficient at sequestering carbon, and have increasingly come to be referred to as Blue Carbon habitats. They
The Case for 3D Printing Downhole Tools
redesigned.It’s also important to note AM’s broad range of material capabilities as well. Where the first 3D-printers were limited to prototypes made of simple polymers—suitable for testing form and fit but not function—today's machines print a wide range of engineering-grade plastics as well as fully-dense metals, including titanium, duplex and stainless steels, nickel and chromium-based superalloys. AM's ability to build complex, optimized part geometries from these and other high-grade materials means that less metal is needed to meet the oil and gas industry’s stringent
A look inside Emily Penn’s eXXpedition
;s oceans on biofuels and was shocked throughout the trip by the amount of plastic waste they encountered. From floating masses in the middle of the ocean to cluttered coastlines on small islands, the plastic issue was clear and real to Penn. While this experience spurred the start of her work with plastics, it still took several years of expeditions and cleanups for Penn to recognize her new career path.Never fear, though—Penn’s architect days haven’t been forgotten. As a constant homage, Penn has adopted art as an important hobby, which provides her with a sense of calm and a closer
Valeport onboard Mayflower Autonomous Ship project
will carry research pods for sensors and scientific instrumentation. Scientists coordinated by ProMare, with support from IBM, will use the data from the research pods to advance understanding in several areas including: maritime cyber security, marine mammal monitoring, sea level mapping and ocean plastics.Valeport uvSVX. Valeport’s uvSVX and VA500 Altimeter have state-of-the-art signal processing technology which provides stable, repeatable readings that deliver high accuracy data performance."We’ve worked with Valeport for many years, integrating their equipment onto our marine
Interview: Christine Spiten, WWF & Cleaning Up Ocean Plastics
Christine Spiten, Nor-Shipping’s latest #ACTION hero, is profiled here, explaining how she left Blueye for the WWF and a mission to stop the ocean's plastics problem the problem at its source. “Eight million tons.”Christine Spiten lets the number sink in for a second … “That’s how much plastic enters the sea every year from our cities and rivers. It threatens not just local ecosystems and the wider environment, but also us – our food sources, our livelihoods, our very existence. It is the fastest growing environmental problem we face. And it demands
The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up
The science and technology surrounding discovery, mitigation and clean-up of microplastics in the world’s environment makes this year’s “MTR100.” Here we offer insights on the organizations, people and technologies taking the lead.As marine journalists, scientists, technologists, activists and enthusiasts, we are aware of the large-scale impact that consumer macro-plastic products have on aquatic ecosystems. Ranging from plastic bags and straws to bottles and fishing nets, these materials pollute harbors, rivers, lakes and oceans, all while threatening the prosperity of wildlife
The Benefits of Sustainable Marine Lumber
materials for new pilings and other structures that lie in or above the water. This encompasses materials that do not “leach” hazardous chemicals into the water or degrade in under ten years, for example, reinforced concrete, coated steel, recycled plastic and fiber-glass reinforced plastics (i.e., composites). An obvious omission to those who are aware of it is sustainable marine lumber. The reason is that many are under the false impression that sustainable marine lumbers are harvested in a way that harms tropical forests. This could not be further from the truth.Sustainable marine
