The Pixar film Wall-E follows a trash-collecting robot in the 29th Century as it roams a post-Apocalyptic Earth that more closely resembles a planet-sized landfill. If recent advancements in robotics are any indication, we may be closer to having anti-pollution automatons than Pixar predicted.
The Ocean is full of harmful pollution, including harmful plastics—the byproduct of centuries of accelerating industrial production. The largest example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located halfway between Hawaii and California, contains enough trash to cover Texas twice-over. When large pieces of buoyant plastic make it into the ocean they get trapped in patches like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and, through exposure to the sun, waves, temperatures, and marine life, eventually break up into micro-plastics. These micro-plastics then exit the garbage patches and spread across the ocean.
Micro-plastics are especially dangerous because they're difficult to remove from the environment, and they (and the toxic chemicals they contain) can easily be absorbed by by living things, intentionally or unintentionally. Marine animals are threatened because they often mistake micro plastics for food. If you don't have a fully developed sense of empathy, you may be thinking, "Why should I care I'm not a marine animal!" Well, there are also health and economic consequences for human beings. Through a process called "bioaccumulation" these plastics work their way up the food chain as the feeders become prey, and toxic chemicals are eventually absorbed by humans. In addition to the massive health implications posed by marine plastics, there is an annual economic cost estimated to range between $6 and $19 Billion USD.
Organizations, like the nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup, have dedicated themselves to solving the problem of oceanic plastic pollution by engineering anti-pollution technology. One example is their boat "The Interceptor," which collects and removes large pieces of plastic before they enter garbage patches and degrade into micro-plastics. "The Interceptor" is a fully automated, solar powered vessel capable of removing 100,000 kilos (or 110 tons) of trash per day. The vessel collects the trash, distributes it into one of six onboard dumpsters using sensors to maintain a balanced weight, then alerts local operators to empty the dumpsters once full. As of 2021 the first two "Interceptors" have launched, one in Indonesia and one in Malaysia, and The Ocean Cleanup hopes to launch two more in the near future, in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. The organization plans on using "The Interceptor" to target rivers, which contribute 80% of marine plastic.
The word is still out on whether, like Wall-E, these anti-pollution boats have learned how to love, but in the meantime the innovations show great potential in fighting Ocean pollution and helping to preserve our environment.
Learn more about Ocean Cleanup and The Interceptor in the video below:
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.