this term was coined back in 2004 by oceanographer richard thompson after he discovered. piles of plasticces the size of a grain of rice on an english beach. in subsequent years, scientists discovered much smaller microplastic particles across the globe. one morian trench to the summit of everest. someone threw away the bet bottle, someone threw away the packaging from yogurt, just throw it out the side, the plastic begins to be exposed to solar activity and salt water activity. little by little it falls apart into very tiny granules, which are actually called microplastics. tiny pieces of plastic like this are still produced on purpose. for example, they are added to some exfoliating skin care gels, toothpaste, and laundry detergents. today, microplastics are found in salt, in beer, even in fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as in drinking water. particles in air can fly around the globe in just a matter of days. marine expeditions to count microplastics in the ocean provide large numbers, which only grow over time as more plastic waste ends up in the oceans every year. scientists have

anne thompson remembers actor richard roundtree, who became a style icon and so much more ♪ shaft, canst onto the screen as shaft in 1971 and changed the culture. confident, suave and cool, he was the first black action hero often approached by fans telling him how he impacted their lives. >> he says, i'm from alabama, and as a kid, we had to sit up in the balcony, and because of watching that film made me strive for something more than alabama. >> my name is john shaft. freeze >> reporter: that role would define him for the rest of his life, but roundtree would do so much more >> i'm safe now. thank you, and good-bye >> reporter: in the groundbreaking tv miniseries "roots," he played sam opposite leslie uggams. >> ain't going to come around here knocking on your door anymore >> reporter: starred with clint eastwood and burt reynolds in "city heat."." a symbol of black masculinity, roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, undergoing a double mastectomy and sharing his story. >> early detection can save your life, and that is why i'm standing, sitting before you right now >>

anne thompson, nbc news. ♪ a bad mother ♪ >> shut your mouth! >> richard roundtree was 81.> preparing for potential flooding this winter. the steps being taken in the south bay as we head toward another el nino. >> good afternoon. i'm audrey asistio. welcome to nbc bay area news at 4:30. our ian cull shows us what's being done right now to keep your neighborhood safe from

anne thompson, nbc news. ♪ a bad mother ♪ >> shut your mouth! >> richard roundtree was 81. i think of you ♪ ♪ i haven't slept ♪ ♪ i think i do but ♪ ♪ i don't forget ♪ ♪ my body moves ♪ ♪ goes where i will ♪ ♪ but though i try ♪ ♪ my heart stays still ♪ ♪ it never moves ♪ ♪ just won't be led ♪ ♪ and so my mouth waters to be fed ♪ ♪ and you're always in my head ♪ ♪ you're always in my head ♪ ♪ you're always in my head ♪ ♪ you're always in my head ♪ ♪ this i guess ♪ ♪ is to tell you you're chosen out ♪ ♪ from the rest ♪♪ [cheers and applause] if you want to give it up for my band, y'all. welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." that is always in my head. great date when you can sing. if you listen closely, if you listen closely to that song i did not know that. might recognize additional vocals on the track that is chris martin on the apple -- album. we don't have a meeting about it, we are just doing it. that is what you're singing, right? so pretty not to pay attention to it. let's meet our first guest and he is basically a tv icon and you can see him on "the cottage" on broad

. >> uncle al, thanks so much for that richard roundtree passed away. our own anne thompsonlways be remembered as the incredibly confident and cool shaft, a private detective widely considered to be the big screen's first black action hero. >> i'm ready can you dig it >> reporter: richard roundtree strutted his way on to the big screen, becoming hollywood's first black action hero as shaft. >> i didn't even introduce myself to you gentlemen. my name is john shaft. >> reporter: at just 29 years old, roundtree's performance helped redefine how african american men were portrayed on screen and the movie was a huge financial success, paving the way for generations of black actors and film makers to follow in his footsteps the film's unforgettable oscar-winning theme song performed by isaac hayes roundtree passed away tuesday after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 81 his long-time manager saying in a statement, richard's work and career served as a turning point for african american leading men on film. the impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated. ro