Hundreds of thousands of boats and ships and the materials and supplies on them have sunk to watery graves since humans first sailed the oceans. Even today, it is common practice for humans to throw their waste into the seas. In the past, much of that material would degrade and/or decompose in the ocean waters. The composition of waste, however, has changed from natural, biodegradable materials to synthetic materials that resist decay. In this Activity, you will observe the breakdown of various materials in water and in sand. Readings