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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An interstellar object is cruising through the solar system
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AI is helping to design proteins from scratch
They could treat diseases, test drugs and boost crop yields
A new project aims to synthesise a human chromosome
The tools developed along the way could revolutionise medicine
How sea slugs give themselves superpowers
Their slimy shenanigans might have applications for humans, too
Is being bilingual good for your brain?
Perhaps. Learning languages offers other, more concrete benefits