Converting biowaste to plant food is an overlooked source of tiny plastic pollutants, researchers say.

Meet some of the people featured in the June 2017 issue of The Scientist.

Contamination of marine and terrestrial ecosystems by microplastics is putting individual organisms at risk.

Both macroplastic items, such as bags, bottles, and other packaging, and products containing micro- and nanoplastic particles—from cosmetics to paints—contaminate the Earth’s ecosystems.

Lab studies suggest that plastic pollutants in the environment could have detrimental effects on animals’ physiology.