Microplastics have become a ubiquitous part of our lives, infiltrating the soil, water, and even our bodies . They’re in the air too , and a new study suggests they’re contributing to the heating of the planet. The findings, published Monday in Nature Climate Change, show that colored micro- and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere may contribute to global warming at a level equal to 16% of that caused by black carbon, or soot. The study adds to mounting evidence that plastic pollution doesn’t just degrade terrestrial and marine ecosystems—it can also influence Earth’s climate. Prior to this research, “we really didn’t know if these things were even warming or cooling,” co-author Drew Shindell, Nicholas Distinguished Professor of Earth Science at Duke University, said during a press briefing. He worked with a team of atmospheric chemists at Fudan University, led by Professor Hongbo Fu, to precisely measure how microplastics interact with light.…