By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Jan 21 2026 Invisible microbubbles forming on everyday plastics can peel off microscopic fragments, revealing a low-energy and widespread pathway for plastic pollution that operates wherever water meets plastic. Study: Microbubble-induced erosion releases micro- and nanoplastics into water. Image credit: Ennachii/Shutterstock.com A new study, led by researchers from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, reports that air bubbles formed on