New plastic pollution discovered: 'Plasticorals' coral rubble fused with plastic

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have discovered a new form of plastic pollution, dubbed 'Plasticorals', where coral rubble has been fused with plastic debris. This phenomenon was found on the shores of vulnerable coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan. The researchers believe that the Plasticorals are formed when plastic waste, such as fishing nets and other marine debris, is carried by waves and becomes entangled with coral rubble, causing it to become stuck and fused together. This process occurs when the plastic and coral are exposed to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, causing the plastic to degrade and stick to the coral.