Eyes in the sky tracking tiny plastics in the ocean

+ America’s founders had a plan to fight tyranny — educated citizens US Edition - Today's top story: The ocean is full of tiny plastic particles – we found a way to track them with satellites [View in browser]( US Edition | 9 July 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Many of today’s environmental challenges are so big that it can seem impossible ever to get a handle on them. Consider ocean plastic pollution: Studies have shown that huge quantities of plastic trash wash into the ocean every year, where they age and degrade into tiny fragments. So far, though, scientists have lacked good methods for detecting and tracking all that waste – the first steps toward cleaning it up. In a recent study, University of Michigan climate and space scientist Christopher Ruf and his research assistant, Madeline Evans, [proposed a new approach](: using an existing network of satellites that monitors tropical wind speeds. They found that zones where the water’s surface is unusually smooth correlate with dense concentrations of microplastic particles. Their work could help target cleanup efforts and identify when and where big quantities of plastic trash are released into the ocean. Also today: - [Trump tech fight may be about more than winning]( - [Why Americans are obsessed with sharks]( - [Over a third of humanity can't afford a healthy diet]( Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Energy Editor Plastic fragments washed onto Schiavonea beach in Calabria, Italy, in a 2019 storm. Alfonso Di Vincenzo/KONTROLAB /LightRocket via Getty Images [The ocean is full of tiny plastic particles – we found a way to track them with satellites]( Christopher Ruf, University of Michigan New research suggests that an effective way to locate and track large concentrations of microplastics in the ocean could be from high in the sky. Politics + Society - [Trump can’t beat Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in court – but the fight might be worth more than a win]( Frank LoMonte, University of Florida Former President Trump is asking the courts to do what tycoon Trump once would have denounced: tell some of America’s most powerful corporations that they have no choice who they do business with. - [America’s founders believed civic education and historical knowledge would prevent tyranny – and foster democracy]( Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino Democracies degenerate because of cunning leaders. Democracies also crumble because of the people themselves – and the US founders believed education would be crucial to maintaining democracy. Arts + Culture - [Before Shark Week and ‘Jaws,’ World War II spawned America’s shark obsession]( Janet M. Davis, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts As part of the nation's massive wartime mobilization effort, millions of Americans, for the first time, traveled abroad – where many had their first encounters with the marine predators. Economy + Business - [3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet]( William A. Masters, Tufts University; Anna Herforth, Tufts University New data shows how high prices and low incomes prevent 4 in 10 people worldwide from buying enough nutritious foods for a healthy diet. Science + Technology - [Branson vs Bezos: as the billionaires get ready to blast into space, who’s got the better plan?]( Chris James, The University of Queensland It wasn't long after Jeff Bezos announced his plans to go to space that Sir Richard Branson joined in, setting a launch date to beat Bezos by nine days. Podcast - [‘Judge, jury and executioner’: why holding militaries to account for alleged war crimes is so hard]( Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Justin Bergman, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation Plus, why sarcasm is so difficult for children to understand – and how to help them. Listen to episode 23 of The Conversation Weekly podcast. From our International Editions - [England’s identity: fans sing football’s coming home, but what is home?]( Johan Rewilak, Aston University; Daniel Fitzpatrick, Aston University Could a national football team of multicultural players usher in a more inclusive version of Englishness? - [Why do cauliflowers look so odd? We’ve cracked the maths behind their ‘fractal’ shape]( Etienne Farcot, University of Nottingham Cauliflowers are unique, and now we know why. - [On the brink of disaster: how decades of progress in Afghanistan could be wiped out in short order]( William Maley, Australian National University In Afghanistan, it does not pay to be on the losing side. There is a danger that a spreading perception the Taliban are poised to take over could trigger a wave of government and army defections. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A map of the world with circles overlaid that correspond to the share of people who cannot afford healthy diets. The size of the circle corresponds to the country's population.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451