River-to-sea plastic pollution: A pilot toolbox for the Caspian Sea.

Summary: Imagine a river dumping trash into a giant lake. Scientists wanted to see exactly how much plastic was piling up where the Kura River meets the Caspian Sea. To do this, they used computer models, flying drones, and local volunteers to track the trash. They found over 600 pieces of plastic on just a short stretch of beach! Most of it was drink bottles that floated in from five different countries. By working together, the team created a great new way to find, track, and help clean up plastic pollution in the water.