Papers

Earth at risk: An urgent call to end the age of destruction and forge a just and sustainable future

This broad review argues that humanity faces converging crises including climate change, pollution, ecosystem destruction, and inequality, all driven by extractive economic practices. Plastic and chemical pollution are highlighted as part of a larger pattern of environmental destruction that disproportionately harms vulnerable populations. The authors call for systemic economic transformation, including replacing exploitative capitalism with models that prioritize sustainability and justice.

Effects of oral administration of polystyrene nanoplastics on plasma glucose metabolism in mice

Researchers fed polystyrene nanoplastics to mice and tracked their accumulation in organs including the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. They found that the nanoplastics disrupted liver function, altered lipid metabolism, and affected blood glucose regulation. The study suggests that nanoplastic ingestion may interfere with metabolic processes, raising concerns about potential endocrine-related health effects.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce glycolipid metabolism disorder via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway in mice

Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles disrupted the animals' ability to regulate blood sugar and fat metabolism. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, activating signaling pathways that led to insulin resistance and abnormal fat accumulation. The study provides evidence that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic disorders through specific molecular mechanisms involving the NF-kB and MAPK pathways.

Supramolecular nanocrystalline membranes with well-aligned subnanochannels for enhanced reverse osmosis desalination

Researchers engineered a 6-nanometer-thick membrane with precisely aligned sub-nanometer channels that filters seawater more efficiently than commercial reverse osmosis membranes, removing 99.6% of salt while passing water 2–4 times faster. The membrane also showed exceptional resistance to chlorine, boron, and extreme pH, pointing toward more durable and effective desalination technology.

Mapping the Cellular Biogeography of Human Bone Marrow Niches Using Single-Cell Transcriptomics and Proteomic Imaging

Researchers used advanced single-cell techniques to map the different cell types and their spatial arrangement within human bone marrow. The study identified nine distinct non-blood-cell subtypes and revealed how they are organized in specific neighborhoods, providing new insights into how the bone marrow microenvironment supports blood cell production.

Atmospheric Microplastics Emission Source Potentials and Deposition Patterns in Semi‐Arid Croplands of Northern China

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic emissions from croplands in semi-arid northern China, where wind erosion events are common. They found that fiber-shaped particles dominated airborne microplastics and that concentrations increased significantly when air masses passed over cropland surfaces. The study reveals that agricultural land in dry regions may be an underrecognized source of airborne microplastic pollution.

Actionable avenues for dermatologists to reduce their environmental impact

This commentary outlines actionable steps dermatologists can take to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare delivery, including minimizing single-use plastics, reducing regulated medical waste, and implementing green procurement policies. Researchers highlighted opportunities for reassessing procedure kits, minimizing medication waste, and promoting environmentally conscious practices. The study underscores that healthcare settings are significant contributors to plastic waste and offers practical strategies for reducing that footprint.

Dyeing to Know: Harmonizing Nile Red Staining Protocols for Microplastic Identification

Researchers systematically evaluated eight carrier solvents for Nile Red fluorescence staining to improve microplastic identification and classification. The study identified an acetone-water mixture as the optimal solvent, balancing strong fluorescence performance with minimal polymer degradation, and demonstrated that Fenton oxidation effectively eliminated false-positive fluorescence from natural organic materials.

Microplastics and terrestrial birds: a review on plastic ingestion in ecological linchpins

Tire Abrasion as a Major Source of Microplastics in the Environment

This study analyzed tire wear particles as a major source of microplastics in the environment, estimating that tire abrasion contributes a substantial fraction of total microplastic emissions globally and highlighting road runoff as a key delivery pathway to waterways.

Vertical Stratification and Driving Factors of Microplastics in the South China Sea: Distributions, Mechanisms, and Ecological Risks

Researchers collected water samples from 15 stations across the South China Sea to map the vertical distribution of microplastics through the water column. They found that depth, ocean currents, and biological activity strongly influenced microplastic stratification, with ecological risk higher in surface and subsurface layers.

Morphology and mineral encrustations of density-separated tire- and road-wear particles collected in Charleston, South Carolina

Researchers characterized tire- and road-wear particles (TRWPs) collected in Charleston, South Carolina, using density separation and electron microscopy. High-density TRWPs were more elongated than low-density ones, and mineral encrustations from road dust—including calcium, silicon, and iron compounds—were commonly found on particle surfaces.

Shedding light on the polymer’s identity: Microplastic detection and identification through nile red staining and multispectral imaging (FIMAP)

Researchers built a multispectral imaging platform called FIMAP that uses fluorescent dye and five different light wavelengths to automatically detect and classify ten types of microplastics with 90% accuracy, while effectively ignoring natural organic matter that typically causes false positives. The system provides a scalable, high-throughput approach for analyzing large environmental samples without needing expensive traditional instruments like infrared spectroscopy.

Ecological interactions influencing microplastic loading in small terrestrial birds

Researchers examined how ecological interactions among soil organisms influence microplastic loading in small terrestrial bird nests, finding that foraging behavior and habitat use create pathways for plastic accumulation in nest materials.

Future of coral bleaching research

Despite its title, this paper focuses on the science and policy of coral bleaching caused by ocean warming — not microplastic pollution. It outlines a research agenda for an NSF-funded coral bleaching research network, addressing bleaching thresholds, monitoring technology, and conservation policy. Microplastics are not a subject of the paper and it is not relevant to microplastic pollution research.

Dynamic droplet behavior for analyte localization on phase change liquid infused surfaces

Researchers developed surfaces that can switch between slippery and sticky states using temperature-controlled phase-change oils, allowing evaporating droplets to concentrate their contents — including microplastics — into a tiny, easily analyzed spot. When tested on real microplastics from bottled drinking water, the technology successfully localized particles for detection, offering a practical new method for detecting trace levels of microplastics in water without complex laboratory equipment.

Microstructure-sensitive investigation of magnesium alloy fatigue

Road sediment, an underutilized material in environmental science research: A review of perspectives on United States studies with international context

This review synthesizes US road sediment research in the context of international literature, presenting the most comprehensive table of US road sediment studies to date and arguing that this pervasive environmental medium — which acts as both source and sink for heavy metals, microplastics, and other pollutants — is significantly understudied relative to other countries such as China and the UK.

Flushing the Lake Littoral Region: The Interaction of Differential Cooling and Mild Winds

Researchers examined how mild winds (up to 5 m/s) interact with differential cooling-driven thermal siphons that exchange water between lake littoral and pelagic zones, deriving analytical solutions and testing them against 3D numerical hydrodynamic simulations to show that even moderate winds substantially modify the buoyancy-driven cross-shore transport parameterizations developed under calm conditions.

Microplastics Not Shown to Affect Coral Health in the Field Like in Laboratory Studies

Researchers examined the relationship between microplastic concentrations and coral health indicators in field settings globally, using data from two databases filtered to observations within 0.2 degrees of coral reef locations. They found that field studies did not replicate the negative effects on coral health observed in controlled laboratory experiments, suggesting that the simplified conditions of laboratory studies may not accurately represent the complexity of natural reef environments.

Microplastics thermal treatment by polyethylene terephthalate-biomass gasification

Malting barley carbon dots-mediated oxidative stress promotes insulin resistance in mice via NF-κB pathway and MAPK cascade

Researchers found that carbon dots derived from malting barley — a type of nanoscale particle that can form in food processing — caused oxidative stress in mice that disrupted insulin function and glucose regulation, raising concerns about dietary and environmental exposure to these food-derived nanoparticles and their potential role in type 2 diabetes.

Student Space Missions—Facilitating Pathways to Success for Next Generation Professionals in Space

This paper describes NASA's Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Project (USIP), which engages college students in real scientific research to develop the next generation of space researchers. While not related to microplastics, the inquiry-based learning model described could be applied to environmental science education programs.

Microstrain in polycrystalline metals