View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-nurdles-quest-for-ocean-domination-kim-preshoff

Nurdles are the tiny, factory-made pellets that form the raw material for every plastic product that we use, from toys to toothbrushes. And while they look pretty harmless on land, they can really wreak havoc on our oceans. Kim Preshoff details the nurdles' quest for ocean domination, shedding light on the particular features that allow these pervasive polluters to persist for entire generations.

Lesson by Kim Preshoff, animation by Reflective Films.