EurekAlert! Staff Picks

A news release by the National Institutes of Natural Sciences describes the discovery of an object beyond Pluto that provides more insights into the outer Solar System. The object, currently labeled as 2023 KQ14, has a peculiar orbit that is different from other objects of its kind. The FOSSIL team’s simulations of 2023 KQ14’s orbit, some of which utilized National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s PC cluster, suggest that the orbit has been maintained for at least 4.5 billion years. These observations imply ancient astronomical events that contribute to our understanding of the history of the Solar System. It is interesting how this could imply that a ninth planet may have existed but was potentially pushed out of the Solar System.

Microplastics are a recent point of concern in conversations about plastic waste and its impact on the environment. This news release by Kaunas University of Technology was informative in how it broke down the different challenges in combating plastic waste. With an increased use in plastic worldwide, pollution from plastic use has made its way into water supplies, different food sources, and even the most unexpected places such as breast milk. One of the main challenges faced with dealing with plastic waste is outdated waste management. I was surprised to learn that even with the increased plastic use, new regulations have only just been proposed. The EU has a goal of reducing plastic waste overall, but a significant challenge is dealing with the plastic waste that already exists. With increased and more efficient recycling efforts, the target is to recycle 55 percent of plastic waste by 2030.