Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now found throughout our environment, and have been linked to a long list of health problems including cancer. But according to a new paper in Science, an industrial solvent called dimethyl sulfoxide can actually break down a subset of PFAS chemicals.

Host Ethan Brown explains how this solvent works, to what extent this solution could help combat the PFAS crisis, and what science enthusiasts can take away from this discovery in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

For more information, see the companion “Tip of the Iceberg” essay here.