Elements
S5 E29

COVID-19 Has a Big Plastic Problem, Here’s What’s Being Done To Fix It

By Seeker

Published on 5/18/2021 at 5:44 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a surge in plastic waste — now, scientists are exploring ways to reuse protective plastics without compromising public safety.

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The Surprising Reason Why You Talk in Your Sleep
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The Surprising Reason Why You Talk in Your Sleep

Some of us will sleep soundly without uttering a whisper; others will deliver entire speeches while sawing our logs.

Meet the First Spider-Like Robot to Explore Lava Caves on the Moon
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Meet the First Spider-Like Robot to Explore Lava Caves on the Moon

Hidden beneath the moon's layers of dusty regolith are lava caves—caves that scientists hope could one day support lunar colonies.

Does Zinc Actually Work to Fight the Flu and Cold?
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Does Zinc Actually Work to Fight the Flu and Cold?

Zinc: A wonder trace mineral for staving off the common cold?

Can Soil Actually Capture Carbon? Maybe Not
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Can Soil Actually Capture Carbon? Maybe Not

Researchers may have miscalculated soil’s ability to capture carbon...meaning our current global climate models might be off.

How Are We Going to Feed the Next Billion People?
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How Are We Going to Feed the Next Billion People?

By 2050, there will be one billion more people on the planet.

Google Made a Time Crystal That Defies Physics
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Google Made a Time Crystal That Defies Physics

Google's quantum computer has been used to create a time crystal, a newly defined phase of matter that defies the laws of scientific physics.

Inside the James Webb Space Telescope’s Orbit Around the Sun
Elements
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Inside the James Webb Space Telescope’s Orbit Around the Sun

NASA spent billions on the James Webb Space Telescope and now we’re going to launch it really far away.

The Next Generation of Nuclear Power Is Here
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The Next Generation of Nuclear Power Is Here

After a decade of research and development, China is ready to test its first-ever thorium-powered molten salt reactor.

Is the Solar System Missing a Planet?
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Is the Solar System Missing a Planet?

Most of us are pretty familiar with the eight planets in our Solar System.

How James Webb Will Give Us Our Best View Yet Of the Universe
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How James Webb Will Give Us Our Best View Yet Of the Universe

Space is actually FULL of dust—we're talking about pillars of dust extending over a BILLION kilometers in size.

Carbon Credits Don’t Really Work, But Could They?
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Carbon Credits Don’t Really Work, But Could They?

In theory, carbon credits are a way for individuals and companies to offset their emissions from carbon-intensive activities, like flying.

Why Your Next Lover, Therapist, and Friend Could Be a Robot
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Why Your Next Lover, Therapist, and Friend Could Be a Robot

Advanced AI’s that humans can form a strong emotional bond with are a staple of science fiction.

The Threat to Our Food Supply You Never Knew Existed
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The Threat to Our Food Supply You Never Knew Existed

The European honey bees are crucial to our food systems, but they may soon be under threat from a microscopic pest.

The Wild Plan To Bring Back Woolly Mammoths
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The Wild Plan To Bring Back Woolly Mammoths

Woolly Mammoths could soon make a comeback.

Why James Webb’s Infrared Vision is a Gamechanger
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Why James Webb’s Infrared Vision is a Gamechanger

Once it's launched, the James Webb Space Telescope will look way back in time to right after the universe formed.

How Long Can We Live? We May Finally Know the Answer
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How Long Can We Live? We May Finally Know the Answer

What if you could live forever?

Noise Is Slowly Killing You
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Noise Is Slowly Killing You

Have you ever stopped and realized just how noisy the world is?

Viruses Have Shaped Life on Earth as We Know It, Here’s How
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Viruses Have Shaped Life on Earth as We Know It, Here’s How

There are approximately ten nonillion viruses on our planet, but that's no reason to panic.

Could This Elusive Particle Reshape the Standard Model?
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S5 E56

Could This Elusive Particle Reshape the Standard Model?

Physicists are on the hunt for a mysterious particle that could totally change our understanding of the universe.

You’re Breathing in Microplastics. What Does That Mean for Your Health?
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S5 E55

You’re Breathing in Microplastics. What Does That Mean for Your Health?

Microplastics are everywhere—in our food, water, and now even the air we breathe.

Could Parallel Realities Really Exist?
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Could Parallel Realities Really Exist?

With the popularity of Marvel's multiverse, you might low-key be wondering how parallel world's could actually work.

How Close Are We to a Malaria Vaccine?
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How Close Are We to a Malaria Vaccine?

Several promising vaccines are in development or trials for malaria, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest infectious diseases — here’s what we know.

Bacteria Can Tell Time...Wait, What?!
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S5 E51

Bacteria Can Tell Time...Wait, What?!

Bacteria have a biological clock just like humans, animals, and plants.

Why Scientists Recreated the Northern Lights in a Lab
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S5 E52

Why Scientists Recreated the Northern Lights in a Lab

For decades, scientists have been unable to prove how auroras form — so one team recreated the Northern Lights in a lab to debunk the mystery.

Why Isn’t U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure Good Enough?
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Why Isn’t U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure Good Enough?

Cyberattacks around the world have been on the rise.

These Rare Elements Are Key to Renewable Energy, What If They Run Out?
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S5 E49

These Rare Elements Are Key to Renewable Energy, What If They Run Out?

Green technologies might not be so green.

The Hidden Pattern Behind Earth’s Biggest Disasters
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The Hidden Pattern Behind Earth’s Biggest Disasters

Scientists analyzed 89 major geological events from the past 260 million years, and it turns out, Earth has a pulse..?

The Space Junk That Threatens Future Space Missions
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The Space Junk That Threatens Future Space Missions

There are about 7,000 artificial satellites in orbit right now, with many more on the way.

These Rediscovered Ice Cores Could Help Predict Earth's Future Climate
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S5 E46

These Rediscovered Ice Cores Could Help Predict Earth's Future Climate

Long forgotten ice samples from the Cold War were finally rediscovered in Greenland.

Could Mars’ Extinct Volcanoes Reawaken?
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S5 E45

Could Mars’ Extinct Volcanoes Reawaken?

Mars might not be as dead as it seems.

Why NASA Wants to Head Back to Venus After 30 Years
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S5 E44

Why NASA Wants to Head Back to Venus After 30 Years

NASA is heading back to Venus after 30 years — here's what they're looking for.

Jupiter’s Polar Winds Create a Vortex Way Bigger Than Earth Itself
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S5 E43

Jupiter’s Polar Winds Create a Vortex Way Bigger Than Earth Itself

For the first time, scientists were able to directly measure winds in Jupiter’s stratosphere, and the results were astonishing.

What You Need To Know About the COVID-19 Delta Variant
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S5 E42

What You Need To Know About the COVID-19 Delta Variant

The Delta variant has been linked to a resurgence of COVID infections and is on track to become the dominant variant worldwide — here's what sets this so-called super spreader variant apart from the rest.

5G Just Got Here, But Where Is 6G?
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S5 E41

5G Just Got Here, But Where Is 6G?

In 2019, 5G wireless networks and devices finally became a reality, but now people are wondering, when are we getting 6G?

Meet the Interstellar Comet Helping Map the Solar System’s Evolution
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S5 E40

Meet the Interstellar Comet Helping Map the Solar System’s Evolution

In 2019, a mysterious comet named 2I/Borisov whizzed by Earth.

Atomic Oxygen in Earth’s Atmosphere Could Hold Clues to Climate Crisis
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Atomic Oxygen in Earth’s Atmosphere Could Hold Clues to Climate Crisis

The airborne observatory SOFIA discovered the first molecule in the universe back in 2019 — now, it’s starting to reveal insights that could change our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere.

Scientists Discovered Mysterious Life Forms Hiding Beneath Antarctica
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Scientists Discovered Mysterious Life Forms Hiding Beneath Antarctica

Half a mile beneath the harsh ice sheets of Antarctica, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey found something surprising: stationary life.

Could We Control the Weather to Solve Extreme Droughts?
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Could We Control the Weather to Solve Extreme Droughts?

As severe droughts threaten regions across the world, scientists have proposed a solution that sounds like science fiction: What if we just make it rain ourselves?

Scientists Are in a Race Against Time and Earth’s Rotation
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Scientists Are in a Race Against Time and Earth’s Rotation

Earth is spinning faster than it has in the last half-century, igniting a fiery debate about what we should do to keep the world on track.

Why Insects May Just Be the Food of the Future
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Why Insects May Just Be the Food of the Future

Insects may be our key to a sustainable food future.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19?
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What Are the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19?

Early studies indicate that some people who had just mild to moderate COVID symptoms are still exhibiting impaired attention and focus months after infection — here’s what we know about post-COVID syndrome.

The World’s First “Living” Robots Just Got an Upgrade, Meet Xenobot 2.0
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The World’s First “Living” Robots Just Got an Upgrade, Meet Xenobot 2.0

In 2020, the world saw its first glimpse of a living robot that could move, self-heal, and work with other bots to meet a common goal.

Why Scientists Might Drop the 14-Day Limit on Human Embryo Research
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Why Scientists Might Drop the 14-Day Limit on Human Embryo Research

Scientists are currently limited to stopping human embryo growth at 14 days — but now, the International Society for Stem Cell Research wants to rethink that limit.

Scientists Want To 3D Print Bones in Your Body
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S5 E31

Scientists Want To 3D Print Bones in Your Body

A team at UNSW Sydney has figured out a way to 3D print bones using living cells.

This Fusion Fuel Experiment Will Bring Us One Step Closer to Ignition
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This Fusion Fuel Experiment Will Bring Us One Step Closer to Ignition

Scientists are set to test the fuel that will eventually power the world's largest nuclear fusion experiment, ITER.

COVID-19 Has a Big Plastic Problem, Here’s What’s Being Done To Fix It
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S5 E29

COVID-19 Has a Big Plastic Problem, Here’s What’s Being Done To Fix It

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a surge in plastic waste — now, scientists are exploring ways to reuse protective plastics without compromising public safety.

How a Doomsday Vault on the Moon Could Save Earth’s Life From Extinction
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How a Doomsday Vault on the Moon Could Save Earth’s Life From Extinction

Storing Earth’s DNA on the moon could be humanity's backup plan — here's how it would work.

How Airlines Are Racing to Clean Up the Skies With “Green” Fuels
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How Airlines Are Racing to Clean Up the Skies With “Green” Fuels

Airlines are racing to clean up the skies — here's how sustainable aviation fuel could help the airline industry meet ambitious emissions reduction goals.

The World’s Most Powerful Supercomputer Is Almost Here
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The World’s Most Powerful Supercomputer Is Almost Here

The next generation of computing is on the horizon, and two nations are neck and neck in the race.

This Ocean Lab Is Uncovering Mysterious Link Between Microbes and Climate
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This Ocean Lab Is Uncovering Mysterious Link Between Microbes and Climate

Scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have brought the complexity of the ocean into the lab to study marine aerosols.

For the Very First Time, We Can See a Black Hole's Magnetic Fields
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S5 E24

For the Very First Time, We Can See a Black Hole's Magnetic Fields

In 2019, scientists at the Event Horizon Telescope revealed the first-ever image of a black hole.

Why Billions of Cicadas Are About to Emerge After 17 years
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Why Billions of Cicadas Are About to Emerge After 17 years

One of the largest broods of cicadas is about to swarm the Midwest and Northeast of the United States for the first time in 17 years.

Scientists Discovered Major “Hole” in Standard Model of Particle Physics
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Scientists Discovered Major “Hole” in Standard Model of Particle Physics

The long-awaited results from Fermilab's Muon g-2 experiment confirm that the Standard Model — you know, the one that aims to explain the forces that shape our universe — may need some major reworking.

The Hidden Environmental Costs of Electric Cars
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The Hidden Environmental Costs of Electric Cars

Some estimates predict that one third of new vehicles sold by the year 2030 will be electric, so scientists are trying to develop new ways to recycle the lithium-ion batteries that power them.

How Crystals Can Turn Any Surface Into a Solar Panel
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How Crystals Can Turn Any Surface Into a Solar Panel

Scientists are on the hunt for a more efficient solar panel cell, and perovskites show a lot of promise — but they face a few obstacles before becoming commercially viable.

We May Have Been Wrong About the Origin of Life
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S5 E19

We May Have Been Wrong About the Origin of Life

New research suggests we may have been wrong about the origin of life.

Would You Sign Up For a COVID-19 Human Challenge Trial?
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Would You Sign Up For a COVID-19 Human Challenge Trial?

Researchers are deliberately infecting healthy human volunteers with the virus that causes COVID-19 — would you sign up for a trial?

Scientists Are Using Fuzziness To Solve the Mystery of Quantum Gravity
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Scientists Are Using Fuzziness To Solve the Mystery of Quantum Gravity

Gravitons could bridge the divide between general relativity and quantum mechanics, but how do we detect these hypothetical particles?

This Is the Largest Map of Our Universe Ever Created
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This Is the Largest Map of Our Universe Ever Created

Scientists have mapped the largest amount of the night sky ever — and you can explore it online.

NASA’s Next Lunar Rover Could Transform How We Study the Moon
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NASA’s Next Lunar Rover Could Transform How We Study the Moon

NASA’s Artemis program has teamed up with Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency to create the next generation lunar vehicle — an 'RV for the moon’.

What’s Different About the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine?
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What’s Different About the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine?

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization by the US FDA — here’s what makes it different from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

NASA’s Most Powerful Rocket May Be One Step Closer to Launch
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NASA’s Most Powerful Rocket May Be One Step Closer to Launch

Destined to put the first woman on the moon, NASA’s Space Launch System was recently put to the test — but things didn’t go quite as planned.

This Massive Super Earth Is Almost As Old As the Universe
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S5 E12

This Massive Super Earth Is Almost As Old As the Universe

Astronomers recently discovered that one of the oldest stars in the Milky Way actually hosts a hot, rocky ‘Super-Earth’.

Scientists Just Proved the Existence of ‘Liquid Glass’
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Scientists Just Proved the Existence of ‘Liquid Glass’

Scientists accidentally proved the existence of a new state of matter: ‘liquid glass’.

NASA Is Getting New Spacesuits, Here’s What Makes Them So Special
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S5 E10

NASA Is Getting New Spacesuits, Here’s What Makes Them So Special

NASA is aiming to return to the Moon by 2024, and this time with new and improved spacesuits.

What’s Actually in the Pfizer and Moderna Coronavirus Vaccines?
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What’s Actually in the Pfizer and Moderna Coronavirus Vaccines?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine ingredients, explained.

The U.S. Was Hacked for MONTHS, Here’s What We Know So Far
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The U.S. Was Hacked for MONTHS, Here’s What We Know So Far

The U.S. was hacked at the end of 2020 — here's what we know so far and what it will take to recover.

How Scientists Are Creating Diamonds From CO2 Emissions
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How Scientists Are Creating Diamonds From CO2 Emissions

This UK company is making synthetic diamonds from CO2 emissions.

There May Be 300 Million Earths in Our Galaxy Waiting to Be Found
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There May Be 300 Million Earths in Our Galaxy Waiting to Be Found

New research estimates there could be nearly 300 million potentially habitable planets in our galaxy.

How These Scientists Are Turning X-Ray Vision Into a Reality
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How These Scientists Are Turning X-Ray Vision Into a Reality

Researchers at Stanford University might’ve cracked the code on x-ray vision.

Why Overpopulation Isn’t the Problem You Think It Is
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Why Overpopulation Isn’t the Problem You Think It Is

The idea that less people equals less climate change works in theory — but in practice, calculations show that’s not the case.

What Happens to the Human Body in Space?
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What Happens to the Human Body in Space?

Thanks to a set of nineteen new studies, researchers are getting closer to understanding exactly how space affects the human body.

What We Lost When the Arecibo Observatory Collapsed
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What We Lost When the Arecibo Observatory Collapsed

The Arecibo telescope, an icon in radio astronomy, has collapsed — here's the legacy it leaves behind.

What Exactly Is Fracking, and Is it Really That Bad?
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What Exactly Is Fracking, and Is it Really That Bad?

Fracking is gaining popularity, but is this controversial method of natural gas extraction safe?