 Global plastic pollution has been increasing rapidly since 2005, with no signs of slowing down. The authors of the study have created a global time series of plastic pollution in the ocean surface layer from 1979 to 2019, showing a steady increase in both particle count and weight over the past four decades. This suggests that current efforts to reduce plastic waste are not enough to keep up with the growing amount of plastic entering our oceans. In order to effectively combat this problem, it is essential that governments and organizations work together to develop more comprehensive solutions. This article was authored by Marcus Erickson, Wincauger, Lisa M. Erdell, and others.