Rebecca Altman, PhD
@rebecca-altman.bsky.social
Currently writing An Intimate History of Plastics (Scribner, Spring 2027)
Brown Institute for Environment and Society
Words in Orion | The Atlantic | Science 📚
Chatty re: env history of plastic & #creativenonfiction
https://rebecca-altman.com
Brown Institute for Environment and Society
Words in Orion | The Atlantic | Science 📚
Chatty re: env history of plastic & #creativenonfiction
https://rebecca-altman.com
Pinned
Manuscript delivered 😮💨 — now begins development and editing and whatever lies beyond that. Every day I’ve gotten to do this, grateful beyond grateful. 🌱 Thank you, friends, family, for the years (5+) of support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Happy to have written about plastic for @thepolycrisis.bsky.social. Thanks to @70sbachchan.bsky.social for sourcing the excellent graphics. And thanks to @rebecca-altman.bsky.social and @anjakrieger.bsky.social for being my go-to's on all-things plastic.
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/pla...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/pla...
Plastic Planet | Venus Bivar
Stalled negotiations and accelerating accumulation in the global petrochemicals industry
www.phenomenalworld.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Happy to have written about plastic for @thepolycrisis.bsky.social. Thanks to @70sbachchan.bsky.social for sourcing the excellent graphics. And thanks to @rebecca-altman.bsky.social and @anjakrieger.bsky.social for being my go-to's on all-things plastic.
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/pla...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/pla...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Hey #DiscardStudies folks. The European Commission has a public consultation period open until November 6 for its planned Circular Economy Act. If you have an article or post you want included, register and submit at ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...
European Commission - Have your say
European Commission - Have your say
ec.europa.eu
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Hey #DiscardStudies folks. The European Commission has a public consultation period open until November 6 for its planned Circular Economy Act. If you have an article or post you want included, register and submit at ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Enshittification of reality
AI-generated videos claiming to show Hurricane Melissa have been circulating on social media, causing confusion.
Phony AI-generated videos of Hurricane Melissa flood social media sites
AI-generated videos claiming to show Hurricane Melissa have been circulating on social media, causing confusion.
bit.ly
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Enshittification of reality
To the artists, scholars, advocates, journalists, writers, historians, lawyers, entrepreneurs, policy folks, thank you for your good work. To address plastics is to work for human rights, climate stability, human health, environmental justice, global unity, & the rights of future generations. 🙏🙏🙏
Plastics have woven their way into the fabric of every ecosystem, into everything & everyone, into strata & time, but it has also woven a web of us, & introduced me to people who also work for change, whose presence in the world makes the work all the more meaningful. W/ thx #plasticstreaty #envhist
October 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
To the artists, scholars, advocates, journalists, writers, historians, lawyers, entrepreneurs, policy folks, thank you for your good work. To address plastics is to work for human rights, climate stability, human health, environmental justice, global unity, & the rights of future generations. 🙏🙏🙏
Plastics have woven their way into the fabric of every ecosystem, into everything & everyone, into strata & time, but it has also woven a web of us, & introduced me to people who also work for change, whose presence in the world makes the work all the more meaningful. W/ thx #plasticstreaty #envhist
October 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Plastics have woven their way into the fabric of every ecosystem, into everything & everyone, into strata & time, but it has also woven a web of us, & introduced me to people who also work for change, whose presence in the world makes the work all the more meaningful. W/ thx #plasticstreaty #envhist
“A new study of one of Canada's most urbanized rivers suggests it dumps the equivalent of about 18 cars worth of microplastics into Lake Ontario every year, a finding that shocked the lead author.” — from Chelsea Rochman’s lab #plasticpollution
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Toronto's Don River sends 500 billion microplastics into Lake Ontario each year: study | CBC News
A new study of one of Canada's most urbanized rivers suggests it dumps the equivalent of about 18 cars worth of microplastics into Lake Ontario every year, a finding that shocked the lead author and u...
www.cbc.ca
October 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
“A new study of one of Canada's most urbanized rivers suggests it dumps the equivalent of about 18 cars worth of microplastics into Lake Ontario every year, a finding that shocked the lead author.” — from Chelsea Rochman’s lab #plasticpollution
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Environmental scientists highlight role of paint in microplastic pollution phys.org/news/2025-03...
Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle - by Zoie Diana et al. academic.oup.com/etc/article/...
Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle - by Zoie Diana et al. academic.oup.com/etc/article/...
Environmental scientists highlight role of paint in microplastic pollution
Plastic waste is recognized as a major cause of environmental harm, with products like water bottles, plastic bags and clothing fibers acknowledged as major contributors to plastic pollution—but resea...
phys.org
March 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Environmental scientists highlight role of paint in microplastic pollution phys.org/news/2025-03...
Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle - by Zoie Diana et al. academic.oup.com/etc/article/...
Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle - by Zoie Diana et al. academic.oup.com/etc/article/...
“There was no job announcement, no search committee to identify top candidates, no interviews or reference checks.” Re: new head of the National Institutes of Environmental Health
October 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
“There was no job announcement, no search committee to identify top candidates, no interviews or reference checks.” Re: new head of the National Institutes of Environmental Health
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
October 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Built overtop former Union Carbide HQ — dismantled girder by girder before built anew — 60 stories for 10K employees and apparently, per reporting here, no cockroaches.
October 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Built overtop former Union Carbide HQ — dismantled girder by girder before built anew — 60 stories for 10K employees and apparently, per reporting here, no cockroaches.
I am very much appreciating @cassienewland.bsky.social’s opening chapter on #plastics history — begins with the whole rubber-human rights mess, ace primary sources, and puts the whole celluloid spared the elephant trope in its full context. 👏👏👏👏
This book. My word, this book! Plastics folks— the archaeologists on plastics are 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I’m in do not disturb mode over here until I finish it.
October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I am very much appreciating @cassienewland.bsky.social’s opening chapter on #plastics history — begins with the whole rubber-human rights mess, ace primary sources, and puts the whole celluloid spared the elephant trope in its full context. 👏👏👏👏
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
This is how you blurb
October 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is how you blurb
This book. My word, this book! Plastics folks— the archaeologists on plastics are 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I’m in do not disturb mode over here until I finish it.
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
This book. My word, this book! Plastics folks— the archaeologists on plastics are 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 I’m in do not disturb mode over here until I finish it.
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Our national parks are increasingly stressed because of the government shutdown. With a large portion of National Park Service staff furloughed, there are fewer personnel available to enforce rules or care for the land. Across parks, reports are emerging of trash accumulating,
October 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Our national parks are increasingly stressed because of the government shutdown. With a large portion of National Park Service staff furloughed, there are fewer personnel available to enforce rules or care for the land. Across parks, reports are emerging of trash accumulating,
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
"They built their businesses on disposability": Author Saabira Chaudhuri says brands made single-use plastic inescapable.
How Plastic Goods Took Over the World, Creating a Throwaway Culture
Author Saabira Chaudhuri writes about brands’ drive for disposability in her new book, Consumed.
bloom.bg
October 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
"They built their businesses on disposability": Author Saabira Chaudhuri says brands made single-use plastic inescapable.
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: Community, Health, and Environmental Groups Sue to Stop President Trump’s Unlawful Toxic Air Pollution Exemptions
Learn more: environmentalintegrity.org/news/groups-...
Learn more: environmentalintegrity.org/news/groups-...
October 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Community, Health, and Environmental Groups Sue to Stop President Trump’s Unlawful Toxic Air Pollution Exemptions
Learn more: environmentalintegrity.org/news/groups-...
Learn more: environmentalintegrity.org/news/groups-...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
NEW REPORT documents dangerous levels of toxic benzene and chromium at fencelines of plants in PA, IN, AL, IL, OH, MI
Read the report: environmentalintegrity.org/news/trump-r...
Read the report: environmentalintegrity.org/news/trump-r...
August 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NEW REPORT documents dangerous levels of toxic benzene and chromium at fencelines of plants in PA, IN, AL, IL, OH, MI
Read the report: environmentalintegrity.org/news/trump-r...
Read the report: environmentalintegrity.org/news/trump-r...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
October 22, 2025 at 9:22 AM
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
October is "Great Global Nurdle Hunt" Season! Join #nurdle hunters around the world and help gather evidence to address microplastic pollution!
🔎Do you want to become a nurdle hunter? Head to the Fidra website to find out how to take part.
👉 www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/take-part/th...
🔎Do you want to become a nurdle hunter? Head to the Fidra website to find out how to take part.
👉 www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/take-part/th...
October 23, 2025 at 9:17 AM
October is "Great Global Nurdle Hunt" Season! Join #nurdle hunters around the world and help gather evidence to address microplastic pollution!
🔎Do you want to become a nurdle hunter? Head to the Fidra website to find out how to take part.
👉 www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/take-part/th...
🔎Do you want to become a nurdle hunter? Head to the Fidra website to find out how to take part.
👉 www.nurdlehunt.org.uk/take-part/th...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Finally looked up how to get rid of Google‘s automatic AI answers (and the attached waste of resources) and it‘s so easy! What relief. 😅
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
zensnapple's comment on "Is there a real way to shut off the Google AI overview for searches, or am i switching browsers and search engines?"
Explore this conversation and more from the techsupport community
www.reddit.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Finally looked up how to get rid of Google‘s automatic AI answers (and the attached waste of resources) and it‘s so easy! What relief. 😅
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Yes!!!! A permanent solution to my search engine woes.
Finally looked up how to get rid of Google‘s automatic AI answers (and the attached waste of resources) and it‘s so easy! What relief. 😅
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
www.reddit.com/r/techsuppor...
zensnapple's comment on "Is there a real way to shut off the Google AI overview for searches, or am i switching browsers and search engines?"
Explore this conversation and more from the techsupport community
www.reddit.com
October 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Yes!!!! A permanent solution to my search engine woes.
Oh, for fork's sake.🍴 "Men who use plastic cutlery and tableware have a higher accumulation of #microplastics in their semen, which is linked to lower sperm count," according to a recent paper in the J. of Nanobiotechnology. Via @ehnewsroom.bsky.social #plasticstreaty
www.ehn.org/microplastic...
www.ehn.org/microplastic...
Plastic tableware use linked to microplastics in semen
Men who use plastic cutlery and tableware have a higher accumulation of microplastics in their semen, which is linked to lower sperm count, according to a recent paper published in the Journal of Nano...
www.ehn.org
October 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Oh, for fork's sake.🍴 "Men who use plastic cutlery and tableware have a higher accumulation of #microplastics in their semen, which is linked to lower sperm count," according to a recent paper in the J. of Nanobiotechnology. Via @ehnewsroom.bsky.social #plasticstreaty
www.ehn.org/microplastic...
www.ehn.org/microplastic...
Reposted by Rebecca Altman, PhD
Watchdog report says American e-waste is causing a 'hidden tsunami' in Southeast Asia
abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
#eWaste
#BaselConvention
#PlasticPollution
#PlasticWaste
@dalhousieu.bsky.social
abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
#eWaste
#BaselConvention
#PlasticPollution
#PlasticWaste
@dalhousieu.bsky.social
Watchdog report says American e-waste is causing a 'hidden tsunami' in Southeast Asia
A report by an environmental group says millions of tons of discarded U.S. electronics are being shipped overseas each month — much of it to Southeast Asian countries not prepared to safely handle haz...
abcnews.go.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Watchdog report says American e-waste is causing a 'hidden tsunami' in Southeast Asia
abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
#eWaste
#BaselConvention
#PlasticPollution
#PlasticWaste
@dalhousieu.bsky.social
abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...
#eWaste
#BaselConvention
#PlasticPollution
#PlasticWaste
@dalhousieu.bsky.social
Sometimes adjunct, but full-time mom of dyslexic kids asking profs to bear specific cases in mind — the digital is assistive tech, closing the gap between academic demands & learning differences/disability — speech to text, text to speech/ear reading makes all the difference for some learners. 🙏
Fellow academics, I'm doing it. Going all in. Pulling the plug, literally.
This is on my syllabus for Spring 2026: "This is an analog class. No Canvas; this syllabus is your guide."
All readings are printed books; hand-written exams; no laptops. #academicbluesky #Highered #academia #Rutgers
This is on my syllabus for Spring 2026: "This is an analog class. No Canvas; this syllabus is your guide."
All readings are printed books; hand-written exams; no laptops. #academicbluesky #Highered #academia #Rutgers
October 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Sometimes adjunct, but full-time mom of dyslexic kids asking profs to bear specific cases in mind — the digital is assistive tech, closing the gap between academic demands & learning differences/disability — speech to text, text to speech/ear reading makes all the difference for some learners. 🙏