Javascript is required to use this website.

AP Spotlight

Biodegradable Mardi Gras beads help make Carnival season more sustainable

TRAVIS LOLLER and STEPHEN SMITH Associated Press
Feb 17, 2026
Feb 17, 2026
0

NEW ORLEANS — It is Carnival season in New Orleans. That means gazillions of green, gold and purple Mardi Gras beads.

Biodegradable Mardi Gras Beads — Alexis Strain, graduate student in biological sciences at Louisiana State University, shows the biodegradable Mardi Gras beads they are developing Jan. 27 in Baton Rouge, La.
Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

Biodegradable Mardi Gras Beads — Biodegradable Mardi Gras beads being developed by Louisiana State University are seen inside a lab Jan. 27 in Baton Rouge, La.
Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

Biodegradable Mardi Gras Beads — Alexis Strain, graduate student in biological sciences at Louisiana State University shows a 3D printer used to create biodegradable Mardi Gras beads Jan. 27 in Baton Rouge, La.
Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

Huge floats, wild costumes and nonstop street parties: Brazil Carnival in photos

Brazil Carnival — Revelers dressed as flamingos pose a photos during the "Cordao do Boitata" street pre-carnival party in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

Brazil Carnival — A performer from the Mocidade samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Performers from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Brazil Carnival — Performers from the Academicos de Niteroi samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Brazil Carnival — Performers from the Portela samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Brazil Carnival — A performer from the Portela samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Brazil Carnival — Former model and actress Adriane Galisteu parades at the Portela samba school during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Brazil Carnival — Performers from the Mocidade samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

Brazil Carnival — A dancer from the Colorado do Bras samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — A dog wears a cardboard soccer net costume during the "Blocao" Carnival dog parade in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

Brazil Carnival — Owners and their pets pose for a photo at the "Blocao" Carnival dog parade in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

Brazil Carnival — Revelers performs during the Amigos da Onca Carnival street party in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — A reveler performs during the Amigos da Onca Carnival street party in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Raquel Poti performs on stilts during the Amigos da Onca Carnival street party, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Revelers cheer during the Mud Block carnival party in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — A reveler donning a Grinch mask strikes a pose during the Mud Block carnival party in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — Dancers from the Mocidade Unida da Mooca samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — A dancer from the Mocidade Unida da Mooca samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Dancers from the Colorado do Bras samba school perform during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — A dancer from the Colorado do Bras samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — Dancers from the Colorado do Bras samba school perform on a float during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Andre Penner

Brazil Carnival — A reveler dances during the "Cordao do Boitata" street pre-carnival party in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Carnival King Momo, Danilo Vieira, receives the key of the city from Mayor Eduardo Paes during a ceremony officially kicking off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

Brazil Carnival — Performers attend a ceremony officially kicking off Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo

APTOPIX Brazil Carnival — Revelers attend the Carmelitas street party on the first official day of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Bruna Prado

Notifications
Settings

Topics

Breaking News

News Alerts