The interactions of plastic with tar and other petroleum derivatives in the marine environment: A general perspective.

Plastic and oil pollution are closely linked to our dependence on petroleum derivatives. Their excessive use and inefficiencies in their management, have led to negative impacts on marine ecosystems since their very introduction. Agglomerates of tar, plastic, paraffins, and other petrochemicals and oil derivatives with naturally occurring materials, are increasingly widespread in coastal environments, stalling as an iconic and readable sign of environmental degradation.

Monte Carlo techniques for in-situ specific activity estimation of radionuclides with a portable coaxial HPGe: preliminary results.

In this work, gamma-ray spectrometry with HPGe detectors is used to measure radionuclides' specific activity (A) in soils. The main purpose of the paper is to present a general procedure to assess A in soils from in-situ acquisitions. The soil from two experimental sites was analyzed both in the field, with a portable HPGe detector, and in the laboratory, with a BEGe detector.

Low-background gamma spectrometry and neutron diffraction in the study of stony meteorites.

Non-destructive characterisation of meteorites is here performed on a stony meteorite. The identification of the sample is performed by low-background γ-ray spectrometry in order to determine the presence of certain cosmogenic radionuclides, whereas a mineralogical phase quantitative analysis is carried out by Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF-ND) on the sample as-it-is. The protocol is then validated by applying micro-Raman Spectroscopy (μRS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS).

First detection of microplastics in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll.

The presence of microplastics in the world's oceans and their effects on marine habitats are highly concerning. As suspension-feeders, corals are very exposed to microplastics, compromising the health of coral reef ecosystems. In this study we surveyed for the first time the presence of microplastics in Maldivian reef-building corals.

Phthalates bioconcentration in the soft corals: Inter- and intra- species differences and ecological aspects.

The bioconcentration of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) diethyl phthalate (DEP) dibutyl phthalate (DBP) butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-(2-ethy hexyl) phthalates (DEHP), mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-(2-ethy hexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in the soft corals Coelogorgia palmosa, Sinularia sp., Sarcophyton glaucum, and Lobophytum sp. was investigated.

Combining Micro-Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy Mapping: A Stony Meteorite Study.

Meteorite characterisation represents a privileged and unique opportunity to increase our knowledge about the materials composing the Universe and, particularly, the Proto Solar System. Moreover, meteorites studies evolve contextually with the development of analytical technologies. In the present paper, the results from an unclassified stony meteorite (chondrite) characterisation have been reported on the basis of the innovative analytical protocol presented here.

Cs contamination in the Adamello glacier: Improving the analytical method.

An alpine ice core, extracted from the Adamello glacier (Central Italian Alps), was analyzed in its entire length through low background γ-spectroscopy, for the detection of Cs. Our results show that in glacier ice Cs is tightly bound to insoluble particulate matter inside the ice core, and it is therefore possible to restrict γ-spectroscopy analysis to particulate matter only. We show how the sensibility of the detection limit can be improved by almost one order of magnitude by using a well-type detector instead of a coaxial one.

Author Correction: Cryoconite as a temporary sink for anthropogenic species stored in glaciers.

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Cryoconite as a temporary sink for anthropogenic species stored in glaciers.

Cryoconite, the typical sediment found on the surface of glaciers, is mainly known in relation to its role in glacial microbiology and in altering the glacier albedo. But if these aspects are relatively well addressed, the same cannot be said about the geochemical properties of cryoconite and the possible interactions with glacial and peri-glacial environment. Current glacier retreat is responsible for the secondary emission of species deposited in high-altitude regions in the last decades.

A new method based on low background instrumental neutron activation analysis for major, trace and ultra-trace element determination in atmospheric mineral dust from polar ice cores.

Dust found in polar ice core samples present extremely low concentrations, in addition the availability of such samples is usually strictly limited. For these reasons the chemical and physical analysis of polar ice cores is an analytical challenge. In this work a new method based on low background instrumental neutron activation analysis (LB-INAA) for the multi-elemental characterization of the insoluble fraction of dust from polar ice cores is presented.

The medical mystery of Napoleon Bonaparte: an interdisciplinary exposé.

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 to 1821) is one of the most studied historical figures in European history. Not surprisingly, amongst the many mysteries still surrounding his person is the cause of his death, and particularly the suspicion that he was poisoned, continue to intrigue medical historians. After the defeat of the Napoleonic Army at the battle of Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the small island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died 6 years later.