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Chemistry

Plastic can be programmed to have a lifespan of days, months or years

Inspired by natural polymers like DNA, chemists have devised a way to engineer plastic so it breaks down when it is no longer needed, rather than polluting the environment

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Chemistry

Biodegradable plastic made from bamboo is strong and easy to recycle

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Chemistry

Nanoparticles may be the secret ingredient in making ultimate plastics

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A radical idea to fix plastics recycling

Environment

A radical idea to fix plastics recycling

Comment

Environment

How to tackle environmental issues when the world can't agree

Analysis

Environment

Should we give up on recycling plastic?

Analysis

Images from Mandy Barker's new book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype imperfections

Video

Visualising Britain's fashion waste problem with cyanotype photography

Video

Life

Birds' nests in Amsterdam are made up of plastic from 30 years ago

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Environment

Engineered bacteria could break down unrecyclable nylon in clothes

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Health

Is recycled plastic in utensils and toys really a big health concern?

A numerical error in a scientific paper created alarm around the chemicals in black plastic utensils, but the extent to which they cause harm is up for debate

Analysis

Health

Plastic chemicals linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide

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Environment

What will it take to solve our planet's plastic pollution crisis?

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Health

How much should we worry about the health effects of microplastics?

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Environment

A fifth of the world's plastic garbage is either burned or littered

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