And if silver is turned into very small particles, it has antimicrobial properties that are not present in the bulk material.

ECONOMIST: Small wonders

The trick here is that these particles are very, very small, which means they're essentially all surface.

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As plastic is a petroleum based product these small particles act as persistent organic polluters, which means that they form a sponge attracting toxins such as insecticides and pesticides.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

If properly fitted and worn correctly, N95 respirators filter out at least 95 percent of particles as small as 0.3 micrometers, which is smaller than influenza viruses, the report notes.

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Through the book we come to appreciate just how big our galaxy--not to mention the universe--is, while understanding how small life's essential particles and agents truly are.

FORBES: A Short History Of Nearly Everything

Although this is a small sample, it suggests that man-made dust particles predominate over naturally occurring ones.

ECONOMIST: Orbital debris

"Typically the concentrations are small in red mud and what is present is tightly bound to the particles of iron oxide, " he says.

BBC: How toxic is Hungary's red sludge?