Good news: European sea bass absorb virtually no microplastic in their muscle tissue
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 20 July 2020
In a lab study, sea bass fed microplastic-laced diets for 4 months had almost no particles in their fillets—just 1–2 particles per 5 g. Most microplastics were excreted, suggesting minimal transfer to edible tissue and low risk to consumers.
Keywords: microplastics, sea bass, AWI, food safety, fish fillet, aquaculture, bloodstream absorption
Siberia’s permafrost erosion has been worsening for years
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 16 September 2020
Erosion of Siberia’s Sobo-Sise Cliff has tripled since the 1960s, releasing ~15,000 t of carbon and 1,000 t of nitrogen from permafrost into the Lena River. This carbon release could amplify climate change and disrupt Arctic river ecosystems.
Keywords: permafrost erosion, Lena River, carbon release, nitrogen, yedoma, climate change, AWI
Model comparison: Experts calculate future ice loss and the extent to which Greenland and the Antarctic will contribute to sea-level rise
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
Published: 17 September 2020
The ISMIP6 project shows Greenland could raise sea levels by 9 cm by 2100 under high emissions. Antarctic estimates range from -7.8 cm to +30 cm, reflecting major model uncertainty—especially due to simplified ocean and snowfall assumptions.
Keywords: ISMIP6, sea-level rise, Greenland Ice Sheet, Antarctic Ice Sheet, ice-sheet modeling, climate change, CMIP5
