Published on May 4, 2026, in Nature Climate Change, a study by Chinese and US scientists reveals that atmospheric microplastics heat the planet by absorbing sunlight and trapping heat, worsening climate change. Led by Professor Hongbo Fu of Fudan University and Professor Drew Shindell of Duke University, the research shows coloured plastic particles have a global warming potential 16.2% that of black carbon, but in high-pollution zones like the Pacific Ocean, the impact reaches 4.7 times black carbon's effect. Contrary to prior beliefs that white microplastics reflect sunlight, most airborne plastics are coloured and darken with age, enhancing warming. Regional hotspots include the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and events like a 2023 super typhoon increased nanoplastics by 51%, though uncertainties remain due to challenges in measuring global atmospheric plastic concentrations.