Megha Satyanarayana, the chief opinion editor at Scientific American, delves into the concerning study revealing microplastics infiltrating our brains. She uncovers how these tiny pollutants extend far beyond factories, raising alarms about their long-term impact. Satyanarayana also shares insights about her column, Cross Currents, which aims to clarify complex scientific issues and combat misinformation in health and environmental debates. Her perspective emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and action amid rising plastic pollution and its implications.
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insights INSIGHT
Microplastics in the Brain
Microplastics have been found in the human brain, which is surprising due to the brain's protective barriers.
This raises significant health concerns because getting substances into the brain is usually very difficult.
insights INSIGHT
Plastics Link To Climate Crisis
Plastics are derived from petroleum, linking them directly to fossil fuels and climate change.
Microplastics pollution ties into the bigger environmental issue of fossil fuel consumption and insufficient recycling.
insights INSIGHT
Measles as a Public Trust Indicator
Measles outbreaks reveal growing distrust in vaccines and science, despite prior eradication success.
This reflects broader societal challenges in health communication and public trust.
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The novel follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, and Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old boy who lost his leg to osteosarcoma. They meet at a cancer support group and develop a deep bond over their shared experiences and favorite books. The story explores themes of mortality, the meaning of life, and the intensity of their love as they face the harsh realities of their illnesses. The narrative is marked by its direct and introspective tone, as Hazel navigates her feelings and the existential questions that come with facing death.
Not much passes into our brain from the rest of our body, to the chagrin of drug makers everywhere. So it should be cause for concern when a study found that microplastics were somehow ending up in our brain, says chief opinion editor Megha Satyanarayana. She takes a step back and brings us into the wider world of plastics and the way petroleum chemicals can become pollutants far beyond the factories where they are made. Plus, Satyanarayana discusses the Scientific American opinion section and her column Cross Currents, which aims to decode the science from the headlines.
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest Megha Satyanarayana. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
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