This Project Grant award for $478,560.00, granted by the National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050), aims to unravel the formation and impact of the plastisphere - a unique microbial habitat created by the breakdown of microplastics in soil. Led by a multidisciplinary team from Cornell University and the University of Aberdeen, the research will examine how microplastics, including biodegradable ones, age in different soils and impact the soil's physical and biogeochemical properties. The project will track the spatial and temporal changes in plastisphere development under diverse environmental conditions and investigate how the plastisphere influences water dynamics and microbial transport. This research is expected to provide information that could guide efforts to mitigate the potential impacts of microplastics in soils. The award, which runs from January 15, 2025 to December 31, 2027, does not include any planned subawards.