Rubber ducks lost at sea in 1992 still help scientists track ocean currents

In January 1992, a cargo ship accident spilled thousands of plastic bath toys into the ocean. Oceanographers saw the event as a rare chance to study how ocean currents move and where they carry floating objects. Working with beachcombers who reported finds and running detailed computer simulations, they collected data that deepened understanding of how the world's oceans are connected. Although most of the toys have broken down over the decades, their drift continues to help researchers study marine debris.