Microplastics have not yet earned their bad reputation
There are worrying signs. But more thorough studies of their health effects are coming
IN 2018 A TEAM of Austrian scientists discovered tiny fragments of plastic, known as microplastics, in stool samples from people in several countries. Since then, such particles have been found in human blood as well as organs, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and even the brain. They have also turned up in the placenta and breast milk. And, according to some recent studies, the amount making its way into the body is increasing.
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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Mixed bag”
From the April 19th 2025 edition
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AI models could help negotiators secure peace deals
Some are being developed to help end the war in Ukraine
Scientists are getting to grips with ice
Climate change is making water freeze in unexpected ways
Electric vehicles also cause air pollution
Though fume-free, their brake pads and tyres disintegrate over time
AI models are helping dirty industries go green
Mining companies and steelmakers are feeling the benefits
Could data centres ever be built in orbit?
A startup called Starcloud has plans to do just that
The tricky task of calculating AI’s energy use
Making models less thirsty may not lessen their environmental impact