Doctor Who Series 12: Ten Huge Questions After Praxeus

10. How Much Of The Story Was Based On Fact?

At the heart of Praxeus lies a warning about the need to protect our environment. Microplastics are not the stuff of science-fiction, they are a modern pollutant that are filling our oceans and our lungs. Their effects remain unclear, but their sheer prevalence is of huge concern.

From 5 millimetres to less than 1,000 nanometres, these tiny plastic particles are being unwittingly ingested by humans on a daily basis, through dust particles, through contaminated food and drink such as shellfish and bottled water, and through microbeads that despite multiple bans are still being used in some cosmetic products.

It is also true that there are a number of floating masses of waste in our oceans, including the one in the Indian Ocean that features in the episode, and another three times the size of France known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Around 8% of the gyres are made up of microplastics. They can’t be good for us or for the planet and the onus is on us to make lifestyle changes that will help to reduce waste.

So whilst Praxeus, by sheer coincidence has a topical feel thanks to the recent outbreak of the coronavirus, the fears it raises surrounding plastic are the ones to take note of.