Comments on: The Mystery of the missing plastic http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/ The official Derren Brown Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:29:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Bamforth http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63580 Bamforth Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:02:58 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63580 We have to remember that it takes around 5 years from the US and a year from Asia for garbage to reach the gyre. By which time, the plastic will long have broken down in the ocean. Plastic breaking down and getting into the food chain certainly isn't good, but it's unfeasable for there to be a Pacific garbage patch (after all, Hawaii would be dead centre in the patch). Let alone the fact that many photos of the Pacific patch turned out to be off-shore photos of third-world countries lacking the same environmental protection as richer places. I can only speak specifically for the Pacific here but, consider, does it seem likely that plastic would also survive the journey in the Atlantic either? We have to remember that it takes around 5 years from the US and a year from Asia for garbage to reach the gyre. By which time, the plastic will long have broken down in the ocean. Plastic breaking down and getting into the food chain certainly isn’t good, but it’s unfeasable for there to be a Pacific garbage patch (after all, Hawaii would be dead centre in the patch). Let alone the fact that many photos of the Pacific patch turned out to be off-shore photos of third-world countries lacking the same environmental protection as richer places.

I can only speak specifically for the Pacific here but, consider, does it seem likely that plastic would also survive the journey in the Atlantic either?

]]> By: Daniel http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63384 Daniel Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:12:22 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63384 There'd be a Micheal Jackson joke in here somewhere, but, er, you know... ...who do we aim arbitrary plastic jokes at these days?.. There’d be a Micheal Jackson joke in here somewhere, but, er, you know…
…who do we aim arbitrary plastic jokes at these days?..

]]> By: Flapjack http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63374 Flapjack Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:26:43 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63374 Plastic is a petrochemical, as far as I was told in my secondary school science classes. Petrochemicals are the end result of decomposing fossilised plankton on the sea bed. So I guess you could say all that fossilised plankton has just found it's way back home, like Lassie did. Though somehow that doesn't make me feel any better about it. And it's still a bizarre thought that I'm typing this on a keyboard made of ancient squishy plankton. I'm going to be up all night thinking about this now... Plastic is a petrochemical, as far as I was told in my secondary school science classes.
Petrochemicals are the end result of decomposing fossilised plankton on the sea bed. So I guess you could say all that fossilised plankton has just found it’s way back home, like Lassie did.
Though somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better about it.
And it’s still a bizarre thought that I’m typing this on a keyboard made of ancient squishy plankton.
I’m going to be up all night thinking about this now…

]]> By: roz http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63360 roz Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:24:39 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63360 could it be that biodegradable plastics are making a difference? could it be that biodegradable plastics are making a difference?

]]> By: Taxi London http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63353 Taxi London Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:31:38 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63353 interesing article...;) interesing article…;)

]]> By: Paul http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/mystery-missing-plastic/#comment-63352 Paul Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:21:59 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=13740#comment-63352 Of course there's plastic missing! What do you expect of the Bermuda Triangle? Of course there’s plastic missing! What do you expect of the Bermuda Triangle?

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