In this experiment, scientists are studying how long it takes for some specific kinds of biodegradable plastics to break down fully in a marine environment similar to the sea near Bergen in Norway.
They are also studying which microbes are involved, and whether the location of the samples makes any difference: some samples are in the water column, while others are on a sediment simulating the seafloor.
The experiment has been running since summer 2021.
By conducting the experiment as part of a public exhibition at Bergen Aquarium, and providing a livestream on the web, anyone can watch these plastics breaking down and understand the kind of timescale involved.
This page explains the experimental methodology and the science behind it.