Alexandra Ter Halle (2R), CNRS Research Fellow in Chemistry, and Jean-Francois Ghiglione, marine ecotoxicologist biologist, inspect with other CNRS researchers pieces of microplastic collected from the River Rhone in Arles, southern France on April 10, 2025. On the almost crystal-clear Rhône, the inflatable boat cuts through the morning mist. On board, CNRS scientists and volunteers are tirelessly casting and removing two floating nets. They want to understand how microplastics scattered in the river's pollution interact with living organisms. For an entire day, AFP followed the scientific team on the Rhone, which is financially supported by the Kresk 4 Oceans endowment fund and accompanied by the NGO "Expedition 7th Continent", named after the oceanic accumulation of plastic. (Photo by Christophe SIMON / AFP)
