New TechnologiesNanoplastics Sneak into Brain Cells, Disrupting Puberty and Fertility Hormones, New Study Finds Posted on February 22, 2026 by Administrator Tiny pieces of plastic, widely found in food, water, and air, can harm the development and function of specialized brain cells that regulate reproduction, new research reports. These cells, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, act like main switches for puberty and fertility. During early development, they must travel to the right place in the brain and then release hormones in a precise rhythm throughout life.