Seeker Knowledge
Project
NURD
Research tool
Developing the Nanoplastics Underwater Retrieval Device, from early ideas through underwater testing and its use collecting suspended nanoplastics for research.
Featured video
Key West Nanoplastics Expedition 2026
Published 2026-04-05
Start here for the NURD story.
Starts at 16:09
Videos
Videos follow the project timeline. When Part 1 of a series is reached, the complete series stays together before the timeline resumes.
Components & concepts
- NURD Research
- Plastics Material
- nanoplastics research Research
- plastics research Research
Principles demonstrated
Evidence sources
Sources are ordered by their role and reliability, not by volume.
Journey
- Journey links will be added as the history is reviewed.
Sources and discussion
Primary evidence appears first. Community discussion follows. Outside forums are commentary and may include speculation or inaccuracies.
Primary evidence
Videos
Videos, transcripts, website material, and Doug-authored project posts.
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device
260122 NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device
Nanoplastics Sampler Build - Help Requested
Powered Hose Reel Needed I sent off some specs for a custom hose reel, but perhaps you have an idea or know of a used one laying about? Hose: 450 ft bundle of two live hydraulic hoses and a Cat5 communication cable. 1 – ¾” R1 and 1 – ½” R2, as well as a ¼” Cat5 cable, bundled together with plastic ties. Maximum bending radius: 6 inches. One hose exit in the center of the hub on each side. Connections can be hydraulic quick connectors made once the hoses are deployed and disconnected prior to hose retrieval. I would like the option of using hydraulic rotary unions. 1 - 3/4" and 1 - 1/2" in the future. Reel Size / Strength: There is a good chance that the hoses will occasional twist on retrieval. I think a reel with a 14" diameter drum, 30" diameter flanges, and 30" between the flanges will meet our needs, and fit the available space on deck. Weight of hoses, wire and hydraulic oil is 650 lb. And there will be considerable shock loading, possibly to 1200 pounds, when deployed over the side but we do not plan on trying this in seas greater than 3 ft. Aluminum construction is prefered due to the salt water exposure. Mounting: Fixed. 4 - 3/4” bolts on 2’ X 2’ pattern on the base. That matches with mounting nuts build into Seeker's deck. Drum Design: The drum will need to allow access to it’s interior. I can be solid with a hatch, or preferably formed by a number of smaller pipes in a circular pattern. A battery and wireless communication unit will need to be stored inside drum. An opening in one end of the drums needs to be at least of 2" x 3" to allow access to the electronics when the hose is on the drum.
Nanoplastics Sampler Build - Day 1
Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
Nanoplastics Sampler Build - Part 1 - We Need Your Help
Powered Hose Reel Needed I sent off some specs for a custom hose reel, but perhaps you have an idea or know of a used one laying about? Hose: 450 ft bundle of two live hydraulic hoses and a Cat5 communication cable. 1 – ¾” R1 and 1 – ½” R2, as well as a ¼” Cat5 cable, bundled together with plastic ties. Maximum bending radius: 6 inches. One hose exit in the center of the hub on each side. Connections can be hydraulic quick connectors made once the hoses are deployed and disconnected prior to hose retrieval. I would like the option of using hydraulic rotary unions. 1 - 3/4" and 1 - 1/2" in the future. Reel Size / Strength: There is a good chance that the hoses will occasional twist on retrieval. I think a reel with a 14" diameter drum, 30" diameter flanges, and 30" between the flanges will meet our needs, and fit the available space on deck. Weight of hoses, wire and hydraulic oil is 650 lb. And there will be considerable shock loading, possibly to 1200 pounds, when deployed over the side but we do not plan on trying this in seas greater than 3 ft. Aluminum construction is prefered due to the salt water exposure. Mounting: Fixed. 4 - 3/4” bolts on 2’ X 2’ pattern on the base. That matches with mounting nuts build into Seeker's deck. Drum Design: The drum will need to allow access to it’s interior. I can be solid with a hatch, or preferably formed by a number of smaller pipes in a circular pattern. A battery and wireless communication unit will need to be stored inside drum. An opening in one end of the drums needs to be at least of 2" x 3" to allow access to the electronics when the hose is on the drum.
Nanoplastics Sampler - Part 2 - What Is It For?
More progress, and the reason why this is so important for all of us. Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
Nanoplastics Sampler Donations
Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device - Part 5 - Adding a Flow Meter
Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 6 - Building a Custom Hose Reel
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 7 - Reel Work and a First Test
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Yup. The blades finally spin. Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - More Flow
Found another problem in the boat's hydraulics and NURD is much happier. NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Yup. The blades finally spin. Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD short
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 8 - More Flow and DIY Hose Reel
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 9 - Hydraulic Reel and Food on Seeker
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 10 - NURD Learns to Swim
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
NURD - Part 11 - Starting on the Nets
NURD - Nanoplastics Underwater Recovery Device Join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/svseeker Shop: SeaChestFoundation.org https://www.etsy.com/shop/svseeker Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svseeker Donations: https://www.svseeker.com/sv-seeker-2/about-us/donations/
34 additional references are indexed for search.
Primary evidence
Transcripts
Videos, transcripts, website material, and Doug-authored project posts.
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
out how to take plastics and make them
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
to nano-plastics with markers so they
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
market for selling milled nano plastics
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
plastics and we dissolve them okay
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
because plastics are mainly made out of
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
those plastics and we have those chains
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
fluorophore in our nano plastics so you
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
also micron-sized plastics, okay? They
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
It is clear, so we have plastics, we
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
plastics here below 100 nanometer and we
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
plastics and again Microphage is they
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
plastics with the fluorophore
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
incorporated into our plastics right so
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
certain concentration of my plastics and
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
But those plastics are not being
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
amount of plastics, right? They don't
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
all these plastics This is half half
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
plastics with. Fantastic. If you guys
A Breakthrough for Making Nanaplastics for Research
researching nano plastics instead of
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
researching nano plastics instead of
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
and eating up all these plastics. This
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
always, these pictures of the plastics
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
again, using plastics, which are not
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
with a very clear idea to link plastics
How You Become a Nanaplastics Researcher
human being with plastics and test it.
201 additional references are indexed for search.
Community discussion
Facebook discussion
Questions and discussion from the Seeker community. Useful context, but not automatically verified engineering evidence.
Facebook comment
As a researcher for nano plastics in the ocean, should you be cutting plastic pipe over the water? I'm sure none is going in the ocean but shouldn't you hold yourself to a higher standard?
Facebook reply
A nanoplastics sampler.
Facebook comment
what is Nanoplastics Sampler Build ?
Facebook reply
...saster. Your quick-connect hardware will have to endure sea water. To catch micro/nanoplastics your filter will need to be finer. Therefore, you will need high-power pressure to push that sae water through it, with everything else in that water; salt, plancton...
Facebook comment
Plastic, Plastics, Micro Plastics, Nano Plastics. All plastic is bad for the world.
Facebook comment
The Romans had lead. We have plastics.
Facebook comment
Cool! All of the "plastics" should be quantifiable in the baseline runs.
Facebook comment
Will the NURD tend to “swim” as water is pulled into the front and pushed out the net end? Is that going to be a problem?
Facebook comment
Is NURD an old beer keg?
Facebook comment
It looks like a nice fit. Any guess as to how much the NURD weighs wet?
Facebook reply
...th covered in case of a knockdown. Maybe blue Loctite to the turnbuckles pre passage. NURD, like 007, likes her hydraulic fluid shaken, not stirred :-)
Facebook comment
Like finding a lost 10mm socket! Love the videos and enjoy the journey with the NURD, tranfser case, undestad (sp?) etc and all the fun toys and learnings. BTW- how is your DIY watermaker working out? i remember seeing the build videos but not sure after that.
Facebook comment
Nurd is looking great. You have done a fantastic job so far.
Facebook reply
Dennis Robbins Sr. It does help to prevent accidentally collecting plastics from the surface water where most of the plastics exists. Some water comes around the door, but most of it passes backwards through the nets which are essentially keeping the plastics...
Facebook comment
I’m curious as to the attitude at which Nurd is suspended what was the thought behind it? Awesome work it’s fun to watch!!
Facebook reply
It’s NURD! And besides turds what small animals are you imagining? But yes, if there is a lot of sargassum we could rig it to go in turd end first.
Facebook comment
NURD is in her happy place. It's all coming together nicely.
Facebook reply
Al Brookins Yes, I think the NURD has a future.
Facebook comment
It would be an interesting comparison to let nurd eat at the top for the same amount of water flow and compare the results to the manta
Facebook comment
Enjoyed the video--classic "show the whole thought process" on NURD
Facebook comment
Supporting Eco Plastics and yet the stuff is in a plastic bottle
Facebook comment
What does the nurd do.
Facebook comment
...ll be indispensable. The welders has been used constantly. Never could have built the nanoplastics sampler without them. And the 3D printer is often running too.
Facebook reply
Jack Garner Hope to be on the hard for a bit after this, and back to work on NURD to have it ready for next March.
Commentary
Sailing Anarchy
Public commentary and opinion. It may include speculation, errors, or incomplete information and should not be treated as verified technical evidence.
Sailing Anarchy post #11752 page 588
He said he got a research gig in the latest video. Micro plastics sampling in the keys. Wonder how he is going to tow trawls?
Sailing Anarchy post #11753 page 588
...y to tow even in small boat. He said he got a research gig in the latest video. Micro plastics sampling in the keys. Wonder how he is going to tow trawls?
Sailing Anarchy post #12331 page 617
Today's Garmin track and his intentions to host researchers and trawl for plastics appears to indicate he has finally accommodated some research, one of his stated goals. That apparently justifies the charity. It appears they went back to Key West so maybe the...
Sailing Anarchy post #12335 page 617
...esearchers. Today's Garmin track and his intentions to host researchers and trawl for plastics appears to indicate he has finally accommodated some research, one of his stated goals. That apparently justifies the charity. It appears they went back to Key West...
Sailing Anarchy post #13202 page 661
...ps and was saved but now the world needs your help to save the oceans from 3D printer plastics (and a new transfer case) any donation will help. He's headed for the Chesapeake Bay, where there be grifting aplenty at the various small towns full of good hearted...
Sailing Anarchy post #13929 page 697
There are so many easier ways to sample micro plastics at sea. None of them involve hydraulics or mucking about with old steel drums, so I am sure he won't be interested in what actually works.
Sailing Anarchy post #13932 page 697
...without having to do any calculations. There are so many easier ways to sample micro plastics at sea. None of them involve hydraulics or mucking about with old steel drums, so I am sure he won't be interested in what actually works.
Sailing Anarchy post #13944 page 698
...as necessary, and still maintain standards for measuring concentrations and types of plastics. the point is the standardization as elucidated by @Bagheera. Methodology is not as relevant
Sailing Anarchy post #14135 page 707
A new dive spot that leaches hydraulic oil, coliform bacteria and micro plastics. Nice As long as no one is hurt, it's not a bad option. Dug finally gets to wash his hands of the BSO and Florida gets a new dive spot.
Sailing Anarchy post #14136 page 707
...g a dive site A new dive spot that leaches hydraulic oil, coliform bacteria and micro plastics. Nice
Sailing Anarchy post #14142 page 708
...pubs.usgs.gov A new dive spot that leaches hydraulic oil, coliform bacteria and micro plastics. Nice
Sailing Anarchy post #14266 page 714
I wonder if they have discounted the nano plastics coming from their plastic bottles being used to rinse the samples? I am surprised Dugg hasn't pointed this out to the lead scientist....the guy with the whit t-shirt claiming such a title amongst the kiddies....
Sailing Anarchy post #14269 page 714
...buckets that they are using for the samples I wonder if they have discounted the nano plastics coming from their plastic bottles being used to rinse the samples?
Sailing Anarchy post #14273 page 714
...ed for the second consecutive year and has been found to be a reliable source of nano plastics and other pollutants in the ocean. The "scientists" need to find a different vessel and run the same tests to see whether differences exists between different types...
Sailing Anarchy post #14285 page 715
...o make things right. He can fuck up a wet dream. I vaguely recall him saying with the nurd test early on he fried a belt on his DC pump motors, but the pic looks like the front of the diesel, and I'm thinking maybe the DC motors were direct drive on the pumps,...
Sailing Anarchy post #14467 page 724
...lf!( see the foolishness regarding the operation of his make believe research device ,NURD, for a recent example of stupidity in action!) That is why nothing ever ends up working properly.It has been Duggafied. Similarly when he wears his Dugg" the wise old se...
Sailing Anarchy post #14554 page 728
...ine is running. The unholy racket is ...well...unholy! Looks like he has water in the plastics printer, all over the sole, the walls and god knows where else. Hard to imagine how he expects passengers to come on board this future reef. I wonder what the lingua...
Sailing Anarchy post #5114 page 256
Here is real sailing vessel, doing research concerning plastics on the Pacific ocean. This video is 4 years old but the name of the boat is remarkable....SEEKER.
Sailing Anarchy post #6414 page 321
When I was working in New Orleans for Seemann Plastics we had a big project sheathing an old wooden motorboat with C-Flex. We would meet at our shop in Carrolton and motorpool out to the yard at the Rigolets. Except for one new guy who insisted on driving his...
Sailing Anarchy post #5117 page 256
...ama. Last edited: Feb 28, 2023 Here is real sailing vessel, doing research concerning plastics on the Pacific ocean. This video is 4 years old but the name of the boat is remarkable....SEEKER.
Sailing Anarchy post #12756 page 638
...suppose he leaves the torch tanks in the hold and runs the hoses topside. So, dumping plastics into the ocean on purpose, and playing with confined mixes of explosive gases. What could go wrong? muse.ai BOOM - Big 3D Printing Plus4 3D Printer Contest Details:...
Sailing Anarchy post #12326 page 617
...e upon). States he and researchers are going to Dry Tortugas. Looks like trawling for plastics is underway. Last edited: Mar 15, 2025 Switzerland is a mountainous country, and land locked. While I'm sure they will notice the poor fit and finish on seeker and t...