The Download: the problem of plastic, and how AI could boost batteries

The problem of plastic waste hides in plain sight, a ubiquitous part of our lives we rarely question. But a closer examination of the situation is shocking. To date, humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic. Only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled. To make matters worse, plastic production is growing dramatically; in fact, half of all plastics in existence have been produced in just the last two decades.