To explore the role insects and other invertebrates may play in spreading plastic pollution in soil ecosystems by breaking it down into microplastic particles, researchers placed various organisms—such as this Cornu aspersum snail—in glass-jar arenas with a small amount of food and a piece of polystyrene foam for 24 hours. Afterward, the researchers counted the number of microplastic particles in the animal feces, the sand, and within the dead animal itself. (Photo by Max Helmberger)