Weather & Science
Heat-Trapping Microplastics Found to Play Role in Climate Change
The ubiquitous tiny particles absorb sunlight when airborne, contributing to the warming of the planet, according to new research.
A biologist looks at collected microplastic samples at a marine research center near Athens.
Photographer: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty ImagesMicroplastics in the atmosphere are heating the planet, magnifying climate change impacts, according to new research.
Scientists in China and the US found that tiny, colored plastic particles absorb sunlight as winds blow them around the world, trapping heat and contributing to temperature rise, according to the peer-reviewed paper published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.