Rivers are the primary pathways of microplastics and mesoplastics (MMPs) input into the ocean. Most studies have examined MMP concentration in rivers during low-flows, overlooking high-flow or flooding situations, wherein large amounts of plastic can be transported. To address this gap, researchers investigated how MMP concentration changes during floods in four rivers in Japan, offering valuable new insights. The findings show that overlooking high-flow conditions can lead to severe underestimation of annual plastic load.

With the departure of the research vessel Polarstern from Punta Arenas (Chile) scheduled for this weekend, the "Summer Weddell Sea Outflow Study" (SWOS) international expedition will commence. Up to early April, a multidisciplinary international research team will investigate the northwestern region of the Weddell Sea – an area of central importance for the global climate and ocean system, but one that can only be explored on site by research icebreakers such as the Polarstern due to challenging sea ice conditions.

Through a unique collaboration between the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), Pensoft Publishers, and science communicator Ze Frank, a new species of deep-sea chiton has officially been named by the public. Following a week-long viral campaign that invited global name suggestions, the species’ formal scientific description was published today in the Biodiversity Data Journal.