Ocean Plastics

How harmful are they, and how do we know?

Plastics are one of the most common substances in everyday life, found in everything from toothbrushes to cell towers. Now they have spread throughout the ocean, with surprising–and costly–consequences for us and for our ocean planet.

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Season 5, Episode 3
Originally aired April 12, 2023

Speakers & Host:

Sarah Dunlop

Head, Plastics & Human Health, Minderoo Foundation

Kara Lavender Law

Oceanographer, Sea Education Association

John Stegeman

Ocean toxicologist, WHOI

Veronique Lacapra

Host and Director of Special Projects, WHOI

SEASONS All Climate & Weather How the Ocean Works Ocean & Human Lives Ocean Life Ocean Tech Sustainable Ocean

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Ocean Plastics

How harmful are they, and how do we know?

Season 5, Episode 3

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Sailing for Science

Behind every oceanographer is a team of people dedicated to safe and successful research cruises.

Season 4, Episode 6

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Heat Waves

This summer was another hot one for many, with long, sweltering stretches of higher-than-usual temperatures—and not just on land. Heatwaves are also sweeping the ocean, with implications for marine life and the people who depend on it.

Season 4, Episode 5

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Ocean Pollution

Pollution is a growing threat to the health of the ocean and the lives and livelihoods of people who rely on marine resources worldwide.

Season 4, Episode 3

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From the Sea to the Stars

Women engineering for ocean and space exploration

Season 3, Episode 6

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Radiation: In our ocean, our planet, and our lives

In this episode, we take a look at the radiation all around us—its natural sources, its human applications, and their impacts on us and our environment.

Season 3, Episode 3

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Making Ocean Conservation Work

Achieving success in ocean conservation is a complex navigation of science, policy, and the needs of local communities. But it is achievable.

Season 3, Episode 1

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Our Enchanted Ocean

A night of art, performances, and science

Season 2, Episode 5

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Sea Change

Solutions for an ocean planet: Humanity is at a crossroads and the choices we make today will resonate for generations to come.

Season 2, Episode 4

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The Stories We Tell

Sea stories from ancient oral traditions to modern-day pirates

Season 2, Episode 3

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Hurricanes

Coastal cities lie at the intersection of many issues—ocean and climate, ecosystems and human infrastructure, and a rapidly growing population on a constantly changing landscape between land and sea.

Season 2, Episode 2

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Oceans Beyond Earth

From Earth’s deep ocean to the search for extraterrestrial life

Season 2, Episode 1

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The Future Ocean

What’s in store for our ocean planet and ocean science?

Season 1, Episode 6

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Sharks!

New Insights into an Iconic Ocean Predator

Season 1, Episode 4

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The Science of Shipwrecks

Renowned explorer Dr. Robert Ballard and WHOI scientist Dr. Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser provide a fascinating overview of some of the many, surprising facts that can be learned from shipwrecks.

Season 1, Episode 3