In January, biologists in the Los Angeles area rushed to rescue tiny northern tidewater gobies (Eucyclogobius newberryi) in Malibu’s Topanga Canyon Lagoon. The devastating Palisades fire had thoroughly destroyed the fishes’ habitat, and they needed a new place to live.

Tidewater gobies are small fish that inhabit California’s lagoons, estuaries, and marshes. Despite being extremely resilient in the face of dramatic changes in their environment, they are a federally endangered species, and the Topanga Canyon Lagoon was one of their few remaining natural habitats. 

Normally, tidewater gobies are able to relocate among different coastal lagoons as needed. However, after the Palisades fires, there were limited options for natural recolonization from Topanga Canyon Lagoon, so biologists decided to lend a hand. A video posted on Facebook features scientists fishing out the tiny fish from big coolers of water on the banks of a lagoon. 

The rescue operation—which included organizations such as California State University, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, California State Parks, and others—delivered the gobies into the care of The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and Heal the Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica, where the animal care team looked after them for five months. 

Now, the Aquarium of the Pacific has announced the fish’s triumphant return to their home in the Santa Monica Mountains. Though the Palisades fire caused significant damage to the Topanga Canyon Lagoon, the area has recovered enough habitat to once again host tidewater gobies. “Their return to Topanga Lagoon is significant because it supported the healthiest and most consistently abundant northern tidewater goby population in Los Angeles County until the Palisades Fire broke out,” reads the aquarium’s press release.

Tidewater gobies play an important ecological role within their environment. They help keep other populations within the foodchain, such as mosquitos, in check, while also serving as food for larger fish and birds. They are also similar to keystone species in that their presence can be a broader indicator of that habitat’s health. 

Moving forward, biologists will continue monitoring the local population to keep tabs on its recovery. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that the Los Angeles fires severely damaged countless homes—and not just ours. 

The post After a devastating wildfire, rescued fish make a triumphant return to Malibu appeared first on Popular Science.

When you think of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), chances are that words like cute or fluffy come to mind—not cryptic or stealthy. And yet, researchers in southeastern Australia have just discovered hundreds of previously undocumented koalas living surprisingly close to the city of Newcastle.

The team conducted what they claim to be the largest and most accurate peer-reviewed koala survey to date. As detailed in a study published this month in the journal Biological Conversation, the survey estimates that a population of 4,357 koalas across 166,302 acres of land is living in the state of New South Wales. Over 290 previously unknown koalas are living in the Sugarloaf State Conservation Area alone.

“We were surprised to find such a large number of koalas in Sugarloaf State Conservation Area because of its proximity to a major regional city,” study co-author and conservation scientist Ryan Witt of University of Newcastle tells Popular Science. “While the area is [a] known koala habitat, most of New South Wales supports very low koala densities. Discovering a higher-density population so close to urban development is unexpected.” 

But koalas aren’t moving closer to people—people are moving into koala habitats. The “secret” population, as it’s described in a statement, has probably been there all along. “They’re existing populations that have been quietly holding on in the bush, right under our noses,” Witt adds. “We just haven’t been able to detect them properly until now.”

That’s likely because koalas are famously cryptic and hard to spot, particularly in dense vegetation, according to Witt. As such, he and his colleagues developed a new survey approach to find them: thermal drones with spotlights. 

The team maneuvered the drone toward heat spots and turned the spotlight on to confirm the suspected koala presence by sight. According to study co-author and University of Newcastle PhD candidate Shelby Ryan, this technique was more accurate than using a method such as artificial intelligence, which might misidentify other animals as koalas,

Though scientists have previously used heat detecting drones to find wild animals, the researchers from the new study say that their incorporation of spotlights is unique. Witt calls it a “game-changer” in terms of accuracy, speed, and scaleability.

“By combining thermal imaging with real-time spotlight validation, we’ve built a reliable survey technique for detecting species that are hard to find,” Witt says. “It’s a step-change in how we monitor wildlife, and it opens up new possibilities for surveying other elusive species around the world.”

After directly surveying around 10 percent of seven national parks across the state of New South Wales, they used a computer model to estimate koala abundance across the reserve land, a rare metric for most wildlife species. 

“It’s a big step forward, because knowing how many animals are out there, and where they’re holding on, is essential for protecting them,” Witt concludes. “This isn’t just about koalas—it’s about transforming how we monitor forest ecosystems globally. You can’t protect what you can’t find—and now, we finally can.”

The post Secret koala population discovered near Australian city appeared first on Popular Science.

Electric car charging infrastructure is growing at a slower rate in rural parts of the United States, according to an analysis from EV charging data analytics firm Paren.

In an article in The Daily Yonder, Julia Tilton notes that “As of the first quarter of 2025, 45% of rural counties had at least one fast EV charging port installed, compared to 76.5% of metropolitan counties.” Chargers in rural areas tend to have lower utilization rates. “In order for privately funded charging stations to break even on their investment, utilization rates have to hit certain percentages, usually greater than the teens or low twenties.”

State and federal funding can offset this “emerging charging divide” by covering the cost of connecting to utilities, hardware rebates, and other incentives — actions less likely to happen under President Trump, who attempted to end the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program (the fate of the program is still pending a court decision).

Loren McDonald, chief analyst at Paren, compared EV infrastructure to electricity. In the 1930s, the federal Rural Electrification Act provided federal loans to ensure rural areas could install electrical systems. “There are some things that literally require government help, or otherwise it’s never going to happen.”

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It takes more than the best solar deck lights to create a lively ambiance in a home’s outdoor spaces. Cultivating our area’s native plants and observing the local wildlife is a joy that all humans should experience. If you’ve ever picked up a pair of birding binoculars, then you’ll know that birds are among nature’s most fascinating creatures—their chirps, hops, preening, and flight are all a delight to witness.

Birds, like most animals, spend significant amounts of time looking for food. While wild birds don’t depend on your seed, if you want to attract the widest variety of birds possible, picking up one of the best bird feeders is an excellent idea. Here’s how to set up the correct bird feeder for your area.

You can’t attract what isn’t there. One of your first steps should be figuring out what birds are actually in your area.

Just as we have maps to track the quality of our environment, there are also great surveys of environmental conditions and habitats for birds. You can use eBird Explore to find a list of what’s in your region or to check and see if your pre-existing favorite species is in your area. The site also has photos and sound recordings for various birds you might encounter. Audubon’s online Guide to North American Birds lets you sort birds by general region as well.

Audobon

Of course, you don’t necessarily want everything to be so digital, as there’s something magical about viewing your birdfeeder with a book in your hand and your phone tucked away inside. For this, you may want to consult the National Audubon Society Birds of North America (2021) or one of the many regional field guides by Roger Tory Peterson of which the Peterson Field Guide to Feeder Birds of Eastern North America may be of particular interest.

Kaytee

If your favored local birds are mostly of the seed-eating type, you’re in luck, as they’re some of the easiest birds to work with when it comes to a bird feeder.

Unfortunately, bird feeders don’t magically spawn the perfect seed blend as needed. You’ll need to buy your own, and there’s a surprising array to choose from:

• All-Around Blends: Blends like Kaytee’s All American Wild Bird Food Seed are surprisingly versatile and are a great place to start.
• Regional Blends: Some bird seed bags, such as Wagner’s Eastern Regional Wild Bird Food are made with regional birds in mind, but they aren’t necessarily going to be that much higher in value than your all-around blend.
• Fruit and Nut Blends: Bird seed bags such as Kaytee’s Nut & Fruit Wild Bird Seed include more than just the basic seed. Bird Watching Daily suggests fruit for species like woodpeckers and warblers, and nuts for birds like American robins, blue jays, and magpies. The fact is, a lot of birds benefit from extra fruit and nuts, but some are even more drawn to it than others.
• Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: The all-black sunflower seeds, such as those found in Wagner’s Black Oil Sunflower Seed Wild Bird Food are rich in fats and oils, making it a sort of “superfood” for birds. 

Wagner’s

Find a cool, dry, sealable place to store your new seed, such as a clean bucket. Small openings will bring pests like moths faster than you can believe, and moisture can cause your seeds to grow mold. Stored properly, bird seed will last significantly longer than it takes your birds to eat it.

Now you have the seed, but where should your birds feed? If at all possible, you will want your bird feeder set up in a place where you can get a great view of it.

Nature Gear

If you want to passively enjoy your local birds from your home office, nothing can beat the Nature Gear Window Bird Feeder, which we consider to be one of the best window bird feeders for its high-quality acrylic, simple suction setup, and all-clear construction. Whether the birds are outside of the feeder or inside it, you’ll get a great view of all of the action. The bird feeder is set up easily, too, as you just need to apply it to a reachable window with a simple suction cup.

However, if you don’t have a suitable window, this one won’t be for you. But don’t fret, because you can still get a quality bird feeder camera to catch the action. These work in a manner similar to dash cams—lying dormant most of the time, waking out of their slumber to take a quick picture or short video clip when a bird (or pesky squirrel) is present.

You may consider getting the Bird Buddy, one of our overall favorites. It can capture slow-motion videos of your birds, take pictures, and help you identify birds by species. You can even name your favorite birds that come back again and again, and it’ll alert you when “Bill” or “Birdo” stop by for a snack. Who knows, you may even capture an award-winning funny animal photo.

Bird Buddy

Ultimately, if you’re willing to clean your bird feeder, you can pick any feeder. However, there are several factors to consider, including climate, environment, and the other species present in your area. In the next sections, we’ll cover more specific issues.

Bird feeders with “awnings” or interior parts are surprisingly effective if you live in a Northern climate. Plenty of birds, such as chickadees or cardinals, set up a sort of permanent residency in even the most due North of states, not fleeing for the winter.

In these areas, your bird feeder can be a good source of food—use a mix with high-fat black oil sunflower seeds for the best results.

Seed isn’t good if it gets snowed on and frozen in, however. That’s why you may wish to try a birdhouse feeder or feeder with an awning, such as a Kingsyard Birdhouse Bird Feeder or even this wooden bird feeder that somewhat resembles a picnic pavilion. These devices will keep snow, and sometimes rain, out of your feeder.

Kingsyard

Everyone knows that hummingbirds are some of the weirdest flying creatures we encounter frequently. They have creative methods for flying through tight spaces, can hover in the air as precisely as a helicopter, and switch flight directions in the blink of an eye. We’ve even recorded them taking dives at 9Gs. But all of this incredible movement takes a special kind of fuel: Liquid fuel, or at least some liquid food.

You can’t dispense hummingbird food with a traditional bird feeder. Additionally, it isn’t very wise to set it out in a bowl—hummingbirds like to feed from flowers, and easily accessible sugary water in a bowl will attract ants and pests instead of the delightful creatures you’re trying to set up your feeder for.

Instead, you’ll need a dedicated hummingbird feeder. Our favorite is the Perky Pet 8116-2, which, despite the clunky name, has a rather elegant design. Its four feeding ports have a flower-like design on a base with a brushed copper finish. The red coloration is pretty and will attract hummingbirds, which have no sense of smell. All you’ll need to do is pour the food in, screw on the bottom tightly and set it up where you like best.

Broadly speaking, we can classify birds as perchers and clingers. Perchers use horizontal bars like tree limbs, power lines, and the edge of a bird feeder to stand still, grasping their stationary spot from above. Clingers have a more claw-like grasp and are adept at grabbing onto the sides of trees, usually to scavenge for insects or, in the case of woodpeckers, to hunt for food in trees.

As you might guess from their reasoning for holding onto trees’ sides, clingers aren’t the biggest seed birds in the world. However, that doesn’t mean they shun seed altogether. A common example is the tufted titmouse, which eats a large combination of nuts, insects, fruit, suet, and even seed. Woodpeckers have also been known to go after seeds occasionally.

So, if you do happen to see birds clinging to trees in your area, or your bird guide suggests there are some in your area, a bird feeder that accommodates them makes a lot of sense. The Perky-Pet Red Cardinal Bird Feeder is a great choice for this, as it has a side net for clingers and a rim for perchers, giving you a chance to attract even more of your local birds.

Perky Pet

When setting up a clinger-accessible bird feeder, you’ll likely be pouring in quite a bit of seed at once. If your seed mix contains a lot of proso millet (the tiny, lightly colored, round seeds), you’ll likely make a small mess as many will pour through the openings in the cling mesh. Be sure to fill outside and away from your garden, as you won’t want these seeds growing in it. (You should plan your chaos garden, as weird as that sounds.)

Owls largely eat rodents, a guest you likely don’t want to encourage. As a result, there isn’t really a bird feeder set up for owls that’s going to make sense for the vast majority of people. That doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to entice owls into your neck of the woods, however.

Many people find success with owl houses, such as the Screech Owl House. These are essentially giant-sized birdhouses with extra ventilation, but can make a very cozy home for your local owl with some luck. The Owl Research Institute recommends filling these homes up about halfway with wood shavings, as owls don’t nest in quite the same way as nesting birds do.

Mobkye

Despite what intuition might tell you, you don’t explicitly have to hang a bird feeder for it to work. There are obviously the suction cup bird feeders that we mentioned above, which technically aren’t hanging, but you can also place the bird feeder on an outdoor table or stake it into the ground. In fact, you can skip the bird feeder altogether if you like; birds have no reservations about eating seed from between the blades of grass in your lawn.

However, in many cases, a hanging bird feeder is preferred. It keeps the birds safe from predators like cats and makes it more difficult for squirrels to nab food that’s not intended for them.

But how should you set one up? Too high up and it’ll be an absolute chore, not to mention more dangerous than necessary, every time you need to climb the ladder to add more bird food and clean out your feeder. Instead, aim for around head and shoulder height. You’ll still probably want to add something to keep squirrels out of the feeder, and cats have a pretty high vertical leap. This all being said, your birds should be quite safe, as birds tend to be skittish and highly aware of their environment.

As for the hanging method, cheap metals and attractive twine ropes may initially look appealing, but you’ll want a rust-proof chain or hook for the long haul. Look for materials like galvanized steel, polycarbonate plastic, or even treated cedar wood for a long-term solution. Avoid getting too fancy here, as you’ll want to be able to take the bird feeder down periodically for cleaning purposes.

As the suggestion of an “owl house” suggests, getting a good look at birds can go beyond setting up a bird feeder, breaking out the binoculars, and settling into the patio furniture. Beyond installing birdhouses, there are many things you can do to increase the chances of birds exploring your yard, such as planting fruit-bearing bushes, keeping your trees healthy, avoiding cutting tree limbs for vanity purposes, setting up a solar birdbath, and providing compost and mulch to encourage earthworms. Don’t let setting up your bird feeder be the end stage of your newfound hobby, but rather the beginning.

The post How to pick the right bird feeder and feed for your area appeared first on Popular Science.

In a victory for Brooklyn bike advocates, a judge ordered New York City to stop its planned removal of a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Although the judge has yet to issue a final ruling, “For now, street safety advocates crowed that they had, at least for now, halted the city's plans to put cyclists back in harm's way on a notoriously dangerous street.”

According to the suit, “Despite the completion of the upgraded lane’s installation in October 2024; and, despite data showing both that the old [painted lane] was not safe or effective and safety of all road users has improved since the upgraded design was installed, the city improperly, irrationally, without proper legal notice and in an abuse of discretion announced on Friday, June 13, 2025 that it would remove the upgraded bicycle lane.”

As Gersh Kuntzman explains in Streetsblog NYC, “Leaders of the Hasidic community — who have long complained that bike lanes bring outsiders to their enclave — claimed that it is unsafe after several minor crashes involving children running into the bike lane from illegally parked cars or buses.”

According to Kuntzman, “The city made several design tweaks, but illegal parkers consistently thwart the city's effort to provide daylighting so cyclists and kids can see each other.”

The judge ordered the parties back to the courtroom on August 6.

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You may scoff at the idea of dog vitamins, but they can provide essential supplements your pooch needs that you won’t find in their normal food. While regular kibble (and the occasional scrap of human food) may be delicious to the dog, it doesn’t always provide the most healthy dietary balance your pooch requires. Leading a healthy, happy life goes hand-in-hand—or paw-in-paw—with a well-balanced diet. We’ve chosen the Zesty Paws 11-in-1 Bites as our best overall pick, but every dog is different.

As with humans, dogs have some basic vitamin and nutrient requirements that their bodies need to process in order to be in good health. These may include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, B-complex vitamins, calcium, folic acid, and phosphorus. Fortunately, these vitamins are generally included in any dog food labeled “complete and balanced.” That said, sometimes it may be necessary to complement your pup’s meals with extra pet vitamins and supplements, particularly if you feed your pooch homemade food or a raw diet. Here are a few of the best dog vitamins and supplements, formulated to help your pet live a long and thriving life.

• Best overall: Zesty Paws 11-in-1 Bites
• Best powder: Wholistic Canine Complete
• Best for puppies: Nutri-Vet Multi-Vite Chewable Supplement for Puppies
• Best for seniors: VetriScience Canine Plus Senior Multivitamin
• Best for all ages: NaturVet All-in-One Dog Supplement

Zesty Paws is a reputable, NASC-approved brand that has created this 11-in-1 bite to help aid your dog with joint support, heart, gut and immune function, skin health, antioxidant support, liver and urinary tract health, and brain function. Ingredients include cranberry, curcumin, glucosamine, a gut health blend, omega 3 fish oil, and more vet-approved nutrients. Each Zesty Paws container provides 90 chews in an inviting chicken flavor, so your pup will likely think these dog vitamins are a tasty treat. An Amazon bestseller, this is one of the best dog vitamins you can find on the market.

This organic dog vitamin is ideal for all dog ages and contains many vitamins, minerals, prebiotics and probiotics, digestive enzymes, fatty acids, and antioxidants created with your dog’s long-term health in mind. Certified by the NASC and made in the U.S., this multivitamin comes from organic products free of any by-products, synthetics, GMOs, or artificial flavoring. It promotes softer skin and a thicker coat, improves allergy symptoms, and boasts a great source of protein. Sprinkle the appropriate amount of vitamin powder in your dog’s food and you should see results in a few short weeks. 

The Nutri-Vet Multi-Vite chewable puppy vitamins are liver-flavored, meaning it can also be used as a treat while in puppy training mode. This product contains the full spectrum of minerals and vitamins to promote a healthy life and has been developed by veterinarians to help build strong bones and teeth, fight infection, support the nervous system and brain function, and help joint and immune health. Plus, at only $10.99, you’re paying about $0.18 per chewable, which is good news for your wallet.

These vitamins for dogs come in duck-flavored chews that are not only delicious, but also gentle on your senior friend’s mouth and gums. When dogs age, it becomes even more important to care for their immune systems. The VetriScience Canine Plus Senior Multivitamin does just this with a perfect mix of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, as well as selenium, all proven to help fight cell damage, boost the immune system, and keep your dog’s disposition sharp.

Made for furry friends of any age over 12 weeks, this dog vitamin features 4-in-1 support and utilizes a resealable jar for continued freshness. Your dog will appreciate the many improvements in his joints and digestion, as well as healthier skin and a shiny, thick coat. Plus, NaturVet is an FDA- and NSAC-audited manufacturer, meaning you can feel at ease knowing the company is safe, regulated, and reputable.

Choosing a dog vitamin doesn’t have to feel like a difficult task, but there are some important factors to keep in mind. First and foremost, discuss with your veterinarian which vitamins and minerals will most benefit your dog’s specific health needs if any. If you are concerned that your dog has been exhibiting any recent health declines or new behavioral issues, you may want to ask your vet to run some tests. They may recommend a supplement for a particular vitamin deficiency, to complement a homemade or raw diet, or to provide extra support if your dog has mobility, skin, and coat, or cognitive issues. Once you have a comprehensive understanding of which types of vitamins and minerals may best aid your pup’s health, it then makes sense to choose one of these dog products.

When researching dog multivitamin brands, you’ll want to ensure they are reputable, with clear labeling of ingredients, health certifications from sources like the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council), and can provide proof of clinical studies of their products. Avoid brands that promise a solution to a medical issue, because vitamins are only health aids, not complete fixes. The best dog vitamins come in many different forms—chews, powders, pills, drops—so consider what will be easiest for you to administer and for your dog to ingest. Finally, make sure that you are only giving your dogs vitamins that have been formulated for canines. Human vitamins are specifically formulated for people and, as a result, may be toxic to your pet, so do not use them as if there were dog supplies.

With so many dog supplements to choose from, your pet store bill can start to add up. Instead of buying multiple products that offer one or two vitamins or minerals per container, you and your pup may be better off opting for a multivitamin. So. Much. Easier. 

For some dogs, anything in pill form will have them lunging for the door. If your dog just can’t get on board with a vitamin in capsule or pill form, you may want to try out a powder instead. Dog vitamin powders contain many of the same multivitamins as you’d find in a pill, but are sold in a powder pack, generally by the pound. Depending on your dog’s size and weight, you’ll have to adjust the dose according to the product’s specifications, but vitamins in powder form should last you and your pup a while. A powder dog vitamin formula should be super easy to give to pets as you can mix it in with their food, so they’ll barely notice their mealtime has been enhanced by some incredible dog supplements.

Generally speaking, dog vitamins are quite affordable, costing just a few cents per pill or per serving when you break down the economics. That said, the products listed below have been specifically chosen based on and target dog age. Coming in at less than $13 for a pack of 60 vitamins—or less than $0.20 per vitamin—these dog supplements will be easy on the wallet and positive for your pooch’s well-being.

You should always check in with your veterinarian before giving your dog anything new to ingest, whether that be multivitamins or food. Chances are there will be no problem and your vet will give you the OK, but they can also help you identify and understand which types of vitamins and minerals your dog will benefit from most.

Generally speaking, the most important vitamins and minerals for dogs include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, B-complex vitamins, calcium, folic acid, and phosphorus. There are plenty of other vitamins for dogs that can boost overall health and well-being, too. Most essential vitamins are already found in pet food labeled “complete and balanced,” but be sure to check with your vet to see if your dog has any specific deficiencies that could be supported via a multivitamin.

To boost your dog’s immune system, giving them a daily multivitamin is a great option. Once you’ve confirmed it is safe for your pet by speaking with your vet and researching the product’s ingredients and brand reputation, you can determine the right type of immune support. Most products will show results within a few weeks. 

The saying “health is wealth” is not only true for people, but also for our furry friends. As pet owners, we want our dogs to feel safe, healthy, happy, and sharp for as long as possible. By complementing a balanced diet with specifically formulated dog multivitamins, you’ll be setting your dog up for success. And given the abundance of high-quality, trustworthy, and comprehensive vitamins for dogs available today, you can feel good about giving your pooch a tasty, veterinarian-approved treat each day.

The post The best dog vitamins to keep your pooch healthy appeared first on Popular Science.

Found new Refrection ringtone from iOS26 Beta1 ipsw maybe this is experimentaly added. because macOS 26 doesnt included. pic.twitter.com/7t9vfNtRZ1

iOS 26 has a glassy new ringtone called "ReflectionAlt1-EncoreRemix"

It's not live yet in the beta but it is present in the filesystem. Perhaps an iPhone 17 exclusive? pic.twitter.com/TxEAz9Ro6F

All Apple intelligence features seem to be down for me pic.twitter.com/fCooar8WcZ

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Plastic pollution remains one of our largest–and growing– environmental threats. From wildlife entanglement to the ubiquitous microplastics contamination inside our own bodies, it’s clear that our penchant for single-use plastic has serious consequences. But when it’s everywhere, what can we really do about it? 

New research indicates there’s at least one strategy that works to curb an especially problematic and unnecessary form of plastic trash. Local and state level bans on plastic bags successfully mitigate plastic bag litter along beaches, lakes, and rivers, according to a study published June 19 in the journal Science. 

The researchers combined information on hundreds of policies instituted across the U.S. between 2017 and 2023, with citizen science data from more than 45,000 shoreline clean-ups conducted between 2016 and 2023. In areas with bag bans and bag fees in place, single-use plastic bags made up a significantly smaller proportion of collected trash compared to areas with no bag policy. Averaged across the board, the reduction associated with bag bans was between 25 and 47 percent. 

“The main finding is that these plastic bag policies are effective in limiting, although not eliminating, plastic bag litter in the environment,” Anna Papp, study co-author and an environmental economist and incoming post-doctoral researcher at MIT, tells Popular Science. 

Previous studies have concluded bag bans and fees do shift customer behavior, resulting in fewer single-use bags distributed at grocery stores. But there’s been very little quantitative analysis of how that behavioral shift translates to environmental impact at the national scale, says Papp. Most bag policies only apply in certain settings (e.g. grocery stores and not takeout restaurants), so bags are still put into circulation, even in places with bans. This new study is among the first peer-reviewed research to assess the bigger plastic picture. 

“It was surprising to see that these policies were working,” says Kimberly Oremus, study co-author and an environmental economist at the University of Delaware. That’s because understanding the downstream, ecological effects of a broad type of policy is challenging. Bans and fee specifics vary widely between places, shoreline clean-ups aren’t uniformly done, and there’s often a lot of inherent uncertainty with the available data that makes teasing out patterns difficult. Even if a trend is there, it’s tough to spot and prove. “There are many things that can happen to a bag between when you get it at a store and it becomes litter along the shoreline. And with citizen science data, it can be very noisy,” Oremus says. 

But, despite all the variables, she and Papp still saw clear trends. “We were pleasantly surprised to see that it’s effective, and so effective,” she says. 

In addition to their primary finding that these bans work, the researchers further found that complete bans and bag taxes are more effective than partial bans, where some types of heavier plastic bags are still allowed. State bans also proved the most robust, showing a larger impact than municipal bans. Finally, areas that start out with high levels of plastic litter benefit the most from bans. 

They double-checked their conclusions by conducting various control analyses. The duo tested for regional spillover effects (i.e. assessing if a ban in one city led to an increase in bag litter in neighboring communities, which might happen if people were driven to shop outside of bag ban zones). The team didn’t see any spillover effect. Additionally, they checked to see if there was a rebound in bag waste after a few years of bans in place. There wasn’t. The researchers also looked to see if any other forms of plastic waste reported in the clean-up data became less prominent over the same study period. This kind of stat would’ve signaled something else besides targeted policy was driving the change in waste. Against all of these checks and more, their findings still remained significant. 

“Those results were especially helpful for us to be confident in our results, that this is, in fact, due to the plastic bag policies,” says Papp. 

One additionally promising finding was that areas with plastic bag bans also seemed to have fewer wildlife entanglement incidents compared to areas without, as reported by the citizen science data. There wasn’t quite enough wildlife data to conclusively show the bag bans were the cause of that improvement. It’s a “suggestive” observation that Papp and Oremus are hoping to follow-up on. 

But a big caveat to all of this positive plastic news is that plastic bag litter actually became more prevalent across most sites over the seven year study period, ban or no ban. When averaged across all of shoreline cleanup data, single-use bags made up an increasingly large proportion of the litter collected from 2016 to 2023. In places with bans and taxes in place, that rise was much, much slower and smaller compared to the areas with no bag restrictions. “Compared to no policy, it’s clear bag bans are better at reducing shoreline plastic bag litter,” Oremus notes. Yet it’s also clear that consumer-facing policies alone probably can’t stop plastic pollution. 

“It’s important to note that [this bag ban benefit] is a relative decrease,” says Papp. “Plastic bags and single-use plastics in general continue to be very convenient, cheap, and available in many different places. So it’s perhaps not surprising that overall usage of them continues to increase.” Single-use bags are still entering the environment and, once there, they continue to persist for up to hundreds of years. 

To completely stop the flow of plastic from manufacturers to stores to customers to shorelines, governments are considering other approaches. In 2022, 175 countries signed onto a treaty to end plastic pollution. That group of nations has been negotiating what the final agreement will look like in a series of meetings. The next one is set to take place in August 2025 and proposals include restrictions and bans on the production of single-use plastics, cutting it off at the source. “I think that is more likely to be a comprehensive solution than the consumption side of policy,” Papp says. 

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