In this episode of The Deep Dive, we confront one of the defining environmental challenges of our century: the accelerating global plastic crisis. Plastic pollution is on track to nearly double by 2040, placing unprecedented pressure on marine ecosystems, human health, and climate stability. We explore how organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and Recycllux are deploying cutting‑edge technologies—from floating barriers to AI‑powered detection—to capture debris already choking our waterways. But these downstream solutions spark debate: are they meaningful progress, or a distraction from the urgent need to curb plastic production at its source? Scientists are simultaneously pushing the frontier of biotechnology, engineering microbes and enzymes capable of breaking down stubborn plastics once thought to be nearly immortal. Financial  ...