You’ve heard of plastics in the ocean. Get ready for metals in the sky.
A new study has found widespread metallic particles in the stratosphere, one of the highest layers of the atmosphere, where the ozone layer protects the world from ultraviolet radiation. Researchers say the contaminants are not normally found in such unusual concentrations and likely bled from satellites, rocket components, and other space-faring vehicles as they reentered the atmosphere.
The threat posed to the ozone layer or humanity at large remains unknown, but scientists say that any changes to the normally pristine stratosphere demand attention. Severe damage to the ozone layer would threaten our species’ very survival, while a milder reduction would cause a variety of ills and worsen skin cancer rates.
Amid the rise of a private space industry, the number of launches increased from 221 in 2016 to 2,478 in 2022, according to the United Nations ...
