Microplastics Found in Antarctic Midges

Scientists found tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, inside the only bug that lives in Antarctica.

This bug is a small fly called Belgica antarctica, which is about the size of a grain of rice.

It lives in the moss and algae on the ground and helps recycle nutrients in the soil.

The scientists wanted to see if these tiny plastics were affecting the bugs.

They put the bugs in a lab with different amounts of microplastics for 10 days.

The bugs seemed okay, but they only ate the microplastics when there was a lot of it.

This is worrying because it shows that even the most remote places on Earth, like Antarctica, are being affected by plastic pollution.

The scientists think that even though Antarctica has less plastic than other places, the plastic is still getting into the environment and might be harming the bugs.