Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse …

Apr 14, 2026 · plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure.

Sep 8, 2025 · Plastics pose a wide range of hazards for people, ecosystems and the climate. Ninety-nine percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels and generate planet-warming greenhouse gas …

Oct 31, 2025 · Plastic products are generally versatile, durable and lightweight. Plastic products are prominent in the construction, transportation, and packaging industries. Plastic innovations …

Improving the management of plastic waste across the world — especially in poorer countries, where most of the ocean plastics come from — is therefore critical to tackling this problem. This page …

Plastic leakage from the economy results from low-cost virgin plastic feedstocks and recycling challenges with resin combinations, additives, and contaminated plastics.

Oct 19, 2023 · From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.

May 4, 2026 · Plastic coverage from Scientific American, featuring news and articles about advances in the field.

What is plastic? Plastics are polymers, that is, they’re large molecules made up of repeating smaller molecules known as monomers. Along with synthetic plastics, polymers exist in nature as well: the …

Jan 29, 2025 · Whether we know it, or like it, our bodies are polluted by tiny fragments of plastic that fail to break down in our earthly environment. What does that mean for our long-term health, and what …