In an area of the central pacific covering over 1 miIlion square kilometers floats the greatest collection of waterborne waste ever assembled. The pacific trash vortex sits trapped at the center of the currents that form the north pacific gyre. It holds upwards of 100 million tons of suspended plastics and other associatedflotsam.

 Thinking of this giant trash flotilla makes one wonder at the, essentially wasted, resources expended in order generate such an incredible phenomenen.

 It made me think that we need to develop a list of the 7 'side effect' wonders of the modern world - a grand tribute to the unwanted consequences of the modern age.

A preliminary list could include:

1) The aforementioned Pacific Garbage Vortex

2) The Love Canal (In a nod to old-school environmental tragedies)

3) The, now closed, Fresh Kills landfill in New York

4)  The sky over Los Angeles

5) Lake Tai Hu in China

6) The Aral Sea

7) Insert your favourite side-effect of the industrial age