The Great Pacific Garbage Patch stretches for 610,000 square miles between California and Hawai’i. The gyre hosts around 79,000 metric tons of microplastics, nets, buoys and bottles. And, surprisingly, coastal life. Scientists found coastal animals like anemones, hydroids and shrimp-like amphipods living on plastic collected from the open ocean.
Biden: Federal employee awards highlight ‘noble’ public service May 5 President Joe Biden said that he hopes the Sammies awards will inspire more people to get into public service. (Evan Vucci/AP) President Joe Biden applauded the Partnership for Public Service’s 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals finalists May 5 as a reminder of the important work that federal employees do to serve the American public. “This is the 20th anniversary of the Sammies. These awards aren’t just the Oscars of public service, they’re a reminder that public service is noble, an impactful profession,” said Biden at a May 5 event honoring the 2021 finalists.