Every year, over 8 million tons of plastic trash gets dumped into the ocean. The trash is not only unsightly, but also a serious hazard to marine life. Animals get stuck in bags and other bits of plastic; others try to eat the garbage thinking it’s food, and many end up hurt or worse. This information may cause one to ask if this is the legacy we’re leaving for future generations. |
Knowing this, Boyan Slat – a 20-year-old man from the Netherlands, has been trying to find a solution. Finally, he came up with an ingenious way that will allow the ocean to clean itself (with a little help). |
The plan is to set up specially-designed floating barriers in key locations around the globe. These locations are gyres – large system of circular ocean currents that are formed by global winds and the Earth’s rotation. The gyres circulate the ocean water around the Earth, making them the ideal location to trap all of the garbage. |
Slat created a non-profit organization called Ocean Cleanup, to aid in the funding and deployment of these oceanic barriers. The barriers aren’t nets since nets trap and kill marine animals. Instead, they are large V-shaped buffers. To stay in place, they are anchored not by heavy objects, but rather by large, floating buoys. |
Water can freely flow under the buoys, allowing animals to pass freely while plastic gets trapped and funneled upwards making it easy to collect and remove. |
Despite many setbacks, it was announced in May of 2015 that the Japanese government decided to deploy the first system in 2016, near the island of Tsushima. The first system will be a 6,500 feet (1.9Km) wide, and it will be the largest floating system in the world. |
The most incredible part of this story, is that Slat raised the funds for his organization over the internet, and his team calculated that by deploying a 62 mile (100km) array, the system will be able to clean up as much as 42% of all of the ocean’s garbage within a decade. If you’re trying to understand the sheer numbers of that, those 42% equals 70,320 tons of waste. |
A short video explaining the Ocean Cleanup mission and history: |
A Day in the Life of a Turtle in the Great Barrier Reef
Join a turtle as it goes about its turtle-business in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Learning Nature: The Lunatic Biology of the Sunfish
This video delves into the mysteries of sunfish's anatomy, unusual growth patterns, and its peculiar diet
The Colorful Sights Under the Bali Waves
Let's take a look at the beauty of the Bali ocean in this spectacular video.
Prepare to Witness the Majesty of Mother Nature!
If you love nature even half as much as I do, then this stunning collection of photographs is bound to take your breath away, and leave you gasping for more!
Here are Some Fast Moving Fish Even Out of Water
This stunning marvel of the ocean, flying fish must fight for its life not only in the water but above it as well.
These Sea Creatures are No Strangers to Land!
Here are 9 unbelievable ocean creatures that can survive out of water by eating insects and birds.
10 Things You Didn't Know Were Invented By Native Americans
Learn about some super useful inventions that the Native Americans contributed to the world.
These 11 Alcoholic Drinks Have a Fascinating History!
In this article, we’ll tell you about the truly fascinating origins of 11 time-honored cocktails!
The Mandela Effect: When Everyone Misremembers History
The Mandela Effect is a strange phenomenon, where large amounts of people seem to remember things differently.
How Are Men and Women Different? A Few Good Examples
In this series of funny but true pictures, we get a quick tour of some of the major differences between men and women...
13 Quirky Vintage Inventions That Should Be Brought Back
Check out these cool and quirky vintage inventions that could be useful to many of us today!
20 Things Most People Think Are the Same, But Aren't!
These words are often mistaken for synonyms, but in reality they are nothing of the sort, because they refer to different things. Learn about 20 of them.,
Wish Everyone You Love a Very Happy Easter
Choose from our 10 special Easter celebration greetings cards to send to those you are thinking of at this special time of the year.
10 Questions You Always Wanted the Answer To
Let's dive into ten questions you've always wanted to ask and uncover the intriguing science behind everyday phenomena.
22 Facts That Will Change What You Think You Know
From Facebook to Winston Churchill, these 22 surprising facts are very interesting.
Amazing! 7 Facts That Have Changed Since Your School Days!
Over time, facts we consider to be completely true can change. Here are 7 facts that have changed since your school days.
Rare Interesting Historical Photos That are Must-See
You won’t find these rare photos in your history books.
Believe These Myths to Be True? The Facts Are Surprising
Read through 11 common misconceptions, you've likely thought were facts.
1 Day in Pompeii: Experience That Fateful Day!
One day in 79 AD the city of Pompeii was tragically destroyed by an extraordinary volcanic eruption. This video shows you just how the scene would have unfolded.
These 10 Children Already Made Outstanding Achievements
Some people achieve great things at a shockingly young age. Check out this list of records broken by children to get inspired.
5 Assassinations of World Leaders that Shook the World
Read through these five infamous assassinations of world leader shook the world.
Our World Is Amazing, As These Pictures Will Show You
Although life can get you down sometimes, seeing just one little thing can make all the difference. Here are 20 photos to remind you how awesome our world is.
9 Different Types of Oranges You Never Knew About
How many of these unique orange varieties have you tried?
7 Fairy Tales That Are Popular to This Very Day!
The best fairy tales are those that are timeless and yet forever modern, tapping into our wildly shared emotions and moral attitudes. Here are 7 of the best!
Beware of Ordering These (Potentially) Fake Foods
There are certain items on a restaurant's menu that should be considered with caution, and this is because they tend to be faked. Learn more here.
These Amazing Illusions Are Enough to Make Your Head Spin
Optical illusions have the potential to highlight how the human mind plays tricks when it comes to perceiving things. Take a look at these 20 optical illusions.
Buried by Time: 10 Little-Known Moments in History
These historical events might not be well-known, but they sure are super interesting.
News That Inspires: Positive Stories From Around the World
There are so many good things happening in the world. Here’s a look at some of the most inspiring news updates to brighten your day.
The Secrets Behind 5 Famous and Beloved Magic Tricks!
Get to know the secrets behind well-known magic tricks with these 6 fascinating explanations.
These 10 Invaluable World Treasures Were Never Recovered
All 10 of these valuable treasures have a mysterious fate, as they were all stolen or lost not so long ago and never recovered
The Incredible Story of a Boy Surviving 49 Days at Sea!
This Indonesian teenager managed to survive almost 50 days at sea while adrift in a floating wooden hut. Learn all about his amazing story here.
WOW! These Men Must Have Nerves of Steel!
Vince Reffet and Noah Bahnson are thrill-seekers who love jumping off mountains. In this breathtaking video, they fly through the Alps.
20 Astounding Facts That Will Skew Your Perception of Time
These 20 mind-bending facts will show you just how warped your perception of time really is. Enjoy!
We Bet You Never Knew the Origins of These Common Idioms!
We bet you use the following 8 common idioms all the time, but have you ever stopped to take the time to think about where they came from?
This Incredible Love Story Brought Tears to My Eyes…
This is the most incredible wedding video you will ever see... A true demonstration to the power of love.
These Specialized Tools Have the Most Unique Uses
These specialized tools have the most unusual uses.
It’s a Shame We Stopped Using These 17 Old English Words
These 17 old words are definitely missing in our modern vocabularies and deserve to be brought back into day-to-day speech
This Video is a Must for All History Buffs!
Seeing history move right before our eyes teaches us so much about the last 2000 years!
You Will Not Look At These 6 Historical Figures The Same
The rumors and myths of these historical figures are already considered facts. The truth, however, is completely different.
14 Photos That Prove Just How Tough Winter Can Be!
Winter, as these photos undoubtedly show, is one of the toughest times of the year!
Unveiling the Great Achievements of the Han Dynasty
In this article, we’ll explore the great achievements of the Han Dynasty, examine how they shaped the future of China
Dance Styles in the 1920 Were So Much FUN!
Enjoy this delightful clip from the movie ‘Don't Knock the Rock’, which shows some groove dance moves from the 1920s.
8 Honest-to-God Facts that Are Just too Weird to Believe
A list of bizarre yet true facts
26 Vintage Celebrity Photos Filled with Undeniable Charm
Let's take a look at 26 vintage photos filled with undeniable charm.
When it Comes to Inventive Solutions, These Guys Are Top!
We all face different issues every day and our solutions to these minor problems vary widely...
Send An Affectionate Kiss to Someone You Love Today
To someone you love, a kiss can say a whole lot, and that's why we've put this adorable collection together for you. Share your affection with them today.
20 Unforgettable Last Words Spoken By Famous People
There’s something poignaant about reading famous last words.