- Microplastics pollute water in rivers and oceans everywhere too.
- Researchers use algae to catch tiny plastic particles.
- Scientists changed the algae to make it water-repellent.
- Water-repellent algae stick to microplastics and join together.
- The algae and microplastics form heavy clumps that sink.
- The clumps fall and make a solid layer.
- The solid layer is easier to collect and remove.
- Algae can grow in dirty water and help clean.
- Collected particles can be used to make new products.
Difficult words
- microplastic — very small pieces of plastic in watermicroplastics
- alga — a simple water plant that can growalgae
- water-repellent — does not let water go through it
- clump — a group of things joined together and heavyclumps
- collect — take and keep things in one placeCollected
- particle — a very small piece of somethingparticles
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen algae in water near your home?
- Do you recycle plastic where you live?
- Would you like to help clean water?
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