Seagrass 'Neptune balls’ trap millions of plastics from the ocean, study finds Isabella O'Malley Scientists from the University of Barcelona noticed an interesting behaviour in seagrass ( Posidonia oceanica) located in the Mediterranean—the gently swaying plants captured and bundled bits of plastic pollution into balls that eventually rolled onto shore. The researchers were stunned by the ability of marine plants to unintentionally filter and remove plastic pollution so they explored just how much plastic could be swept out from the sea. Oceans are often the final destination for plastics and other pieces of garbage that are discarded on land. However, not all plastics remain dormant once they enter the oceans and scientists say that there is evidence that shows some plastics are washed back up to the shoreline. The University of Barcelona researchers’ study, published in