The Download: the threat of microplastics, and mitigating AI bias

The news: While we know that tiny pieces of plastic are everywhere, we don't fully understand what they're doing to us or other animals. Now, new research in seabirds hints that it might affect gut microbiomes--the trillions of microbes that make a home in the intestines and play an important role in animals' health. The findings: Seabirds ingest plastic from the ocean, which can accumulate in their stomachs. The research shows it leaves the birds with more potentially harmful microbes in the gut, including some that are known to be resistant to antibiotics, and others with the potential to cause disease. Why it matters: The report expands our view on what plastic pollution is doing to wildlife, and shines a light on the wide spectrum of adverse effects brought about by current plastic levels in the environment.