Archeoplastica: How Italian Beaches Became A Plastic Time Capsule

A vintage suntan lotion bottle lay in the sand.

It had been there for decades.

The label had faded.
The plastic had not.

Enzo Suma picked it up.
He asked himself, how many more are out there?

That one find led to Archeoplastica, an online museum.

What Is Archeoplastica?

• A collection of more than 500 plastic objects.

• Every item washed ashore on Italian beaches.

• Items date back decades — some from the 1960s and 70s.

Why It Matters

• Plastic does not disappear.

• Sunlight and waves may wear it down, but it remains for centuries.

• Old packaging shows how long our waste lasts.

Examples From the Collection

• Shampoo bottles from the 1980s.

• Food containers with brands no longer in business.

• Children’s toys are still intact after 40 years.

What You Can Learn

• Your plastic products will likely outlive you.

• Even “throwaway” packaging can survive for generations.

• Choosing reusable and recyclable materials matters.

What You Can Do

• Reduce single-use plastic in your home.

• Join a local beach cleanup.

• Support groups that fight ocean plastic.

When you visit a beach in Italy, look closely.
The sand may hide a piece of history — and a warning.

Shark: Why We Must Protect The Ocean’s Most Misunderstood Predator

Discover why sharks are crucial for ocean balance and human survival. Learn from shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder why saving these diverse species matters for our planet.

Something changes the first time you dive with sharks.

We fear them because of how movies and media portray them.
We admire their strength and power.
But sharks are much more than predators.

• Sharks have existed for over 450 million years.

• There are more than 500 species worldwide.

• Some glow in the dark, like the kitefin and dwarf lantern shark.

• Some are social, like the lemon shark.

• The cow shark can give birth to over 100 pups at once.

These species keep the ocean balanced.
When sharks disappear, marine ecosystems collapse.
When ecosystems collapse, humans are at risk too.

Paul de Gelder knows this better than anyone.
He was an elite Australian Navy clearance diver.
A shark attack during a mission cost him two limbs.
Instead of turning away, he turned toward the sharks.

He studied them during his recovery.
He became an expert.
Now, he spends his life fighting to protect them.

His book Shark is more than a story.
It is a message for everyone who cares about the ocean.
It is a call to action for Shark Week viewers, Seaspiracy fans, and conservationists worldwide.

Questions for You:

• Do you see sharks as killers, or as guardians of the sea?

• What happens to your seafood if shark populations collapse?

• Will your children inherit oceans full of life or empty waters?

Protecting sharks means protecting your planet.