Subscribe now
Modern urban wastewater treatment plant

Toxic PFAS can be broken down by bacteria found in wastewater

15 May 2023

Certain kinds of "forever chemicals" can be dismantled using bacteria found in wastewater. This points to a possible way of making more of these compounds biodegradable
Bacteria have been discovered thriving in Beijing's smog

Bacteria live in China’s thick smogs and may be making it even worse

12 January 2019

When air pollution is thick, bacteria proliferate and form microscopic particles in the air that may be exacerbating city smogs in China
There's less plastic in the oceans than there should be

Newly-evolved microbes may be breaking down ocean plastics

25 May 2017

There is less plastic in our oceans than expected because life is evolving the ability to biodegrade it, one team is claiming  

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop