A team of scientists reports that most of Earth's carbon was hidden in the core during its formative years, with laboratory experiments mimicking the conditions of the planet's formation. The findings suggest that a significant amount of carbon likely exists in the core, influencing chemical and dynamic activities.
Scientists discovered that more carbon than expected stayed in the mantle, suggesting it was sequestered into lighter elements like silicon and oxygen in the core. Despite this, the majority of Earth's total carbon inventory still likely exists in the core.
Researchers estimate Earth's core is composed of approximately 80-90% of the planet's bulk carbon, with a tiny fraction present in the core itself. The study measured the preference of carbon for mixing with iron and nickel at high pressures and temperatures, revealing a significantly lower affinity than previously reported.
Global supply chains account for 10% of all global carbon emissions, which has tripled between 1995 and 2012. Researchers call these emissions "carbon-in-transit," as products move across borders with embedded carbon emissions.
New research by IIASA reveals that tropical forest ecosystems' strength as global carbon sinks depends on multiple interacting factors, including species diversity, soil type, and climate. The study found that abiotic and biotic factors interact to determine the amount of carbon stored by the ecosystem.
Researchers found that laminarin plays a central role in the marine carbon cycle, storing an average of 12 gigatons of carbon annually. The study also revealed that laminarin comprises 50% of organic carbon in sinking diatom-containing particles.
A new NASA/university study uses satellite data to track carbon dioxide emissions in 20 major cities worldwide, revealing that densely populated cities tend to emit less CO2 per person. However, exceptions exist, such as cities with major power generation facilities and affluent areas with high rates of driving.
A team of FSU researchers has found that newly uncovered Arctic landscapes are feeding lakes and streams with rich carbon sources, which is then degraded by intense sunlight. This discovery sheds light on the carbon cycle and its impact on climate change and the types of life these environments may support.
A study tracking 300,000 trees over 30 years reveals that tropical forests' carbon sink is weakening, with a feared switch from absorption to emission imminent. The loss of this critical carbon sink capacity is equivalent to a decade of fossil fuel emissions from major countries.
Scientists at the University of Bristol discovered that carbon chains can form helical shapes dependent on their length, with even-numbered chains adopting fusilli-like structures and odd-numbered chains forming floppy spaghetti-like shapes. The researchers controlled the shape by inserting methyl substituents along the chain.
A new framework reconciles model simulations with laboratory and empirical observations, providing a more accurate understanding of black carbon's climate forcing effect. The study finds that black carbon particles are not uniformly coated, resulting in lower absorption rates than models suggest, but still contribute to climate warming.
Researchers at Waseda University developed a new method to convert carbon dioxide into methane at low temperatures. This process can improve carbon capture and utilization, enabling the production of valuable energy resources.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that nitrogen-fixing trees can double the amount of carbon stored in a forest's first 30 years of regrowth. Forests with these trees also take up 10% more carbon at maturity. Planting fixers as part of reforestation efforts could boost forest development and carbon accumulation.
A new study reveals that intensifying tropical land use is causing forests to contribute less to carbon dioxide uptake, affecting the global carbon cycle. Researchers used satellite data and dynamic vegetation models to estimate carbon dioxide absorption by different ecosystems worldwide.
A University of Tennessee microbiologist is leading a three-year study to understand how global warming affects peatlands and their vast carbon stores. The research aims to predict the impacts of warming on the complex network of microorganisms that cycle carbon and nutrients in peatlands.
Researchers identified families with high carbon footprints as consuming more sweets, alcohol, and restaurant food. These food choices contribute significantly to their higher carbon footprint, with meat consumption explaining less than 10% of the difference.
Coastal wetlands will retain their power as carbon sinks despite sea level rise due to sediment accrual rates outpacing sea level rise. The study found that salt marshes can sequester excess carbon in their sediments, acting as a vault for stored carbon.
Scientists and innovators present the concept of the Circular Carbon Economy, a system where carbon emissions are reduced, reused, recycled, and removed. This approach is inspired by nature and aims to restore the balance of the carbon cycle.
Carbon Hub aims to split hydrocarbons into hydrogen fuel and solid carbon materials, reducing emissions and creating a sustainable future. The initiative partners with companies to develop new technologies and deploy them efficiently.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a direct link between ancient carbon, graphite particles from hydrothermal vents, and seafloor sediments. This finding sheds new light on the dynamics of the marine carbon cycle, revealing that organic carbon can be converted to graphite at vents.
A researcher is studying how carbon moves through landscapes and across land-water boundaries, exploring its impact on water quality and freshwater food webs. The goal is to understand the fate of terrestrial carbon and improve global carbon budgets.
Researchers developed a method to monitor tropical forest carbon emissions at unprecedented detail using satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms. The approach quantified the economic cost of deforestation in Peru, revealing areas with significant net losses of forest carbon due to logging and land conversion.
At low concentrations, carbon monoxide has a beneficial effect by interacting with signaling proteins, suppressing inflammation and protecting tissues from oxidative stress. Researchers are exploring safe and effective delivery methods to harness its therapeutic potential for diseases such as sepsis and cancer.
Researchers found that converting degraded pasture to oil palm plantations reduces stored carbon loss associated with rainforest clearing, but can lead to initial soil organic carbon loss. However, the carbon is later redistributed within the soil, resulting in long-term recovery of topsoil organic carbon.
A study reveals a decline in forest carbon storage time, hindering forests' ability to absorb and re-emit carbon. Forests are crucial for regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and increased tree mortality is contributing to this decline.
A NASA-funded study reveals that winter carbon dioxide loss from the Arctic permafrost region could increase by 41% over the next century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace. This would mark a stark reversal for the Arctic, which has captured and stored carbon for tens of thousands of years.
Research reveals oceanic black carbon differs significantly from riverine dissolved black carbon, raising fundamental questions about its origin and fate. The new technique uses stable carbon isotope analysis to track terrestrial sources of black carbon in the ocean.
A new study reveals that intact tropical forests have a significantly higher carbon impact than previously thought, with losses between 2000 and 2013 resulting in a 626% increase. This translates to two years' worth of global land-use change emissions and underscores the urgent need for conservation.
A Stanford University study published in Energy and Environmental Science suggests that carbon capture technologies can cause more harm than good, reducing only a small fraction of carbon emissions. The research concludes that using renewable energy options like wind or solar is always better from a social cost perspective.
A new study reveals that northern peatlands store 1.1 trillion tons of carbon, more than humans have emitted to the atmosphere through fossil fuels. The findings suggest that these boggy areas play a crucial role in the carbon cycle and climate change.
Researchers from RUDN University found that the rate of organic carbon accumulation in wild, cultivated, and abandoned soils depends mainly on soil type and composition. The study revealed that phaeozems release carbon easily, while chernozems contain more decomposition-resistant compounds.
A Dartmouth-led study reveals that actively managed mixed wood forests in New Hampshire have significant carbon stores, both above and below ground. The research found that the forests' soil carbon is higher in subplots with more trees, especially fir and spruce species.
UIC researchers have successfully developed a fully rechargeable prototype of a lithium-carbon dioxide battery, demonstrating its potential for advanced energy storage systems. The battery's efficiency and long-lasting cycle life are significantly improved due to the use of new materials and a hybrid electrolyte.
Researchers investigated carbon partitioning between iron liquid and silicate melt under high-pressure conditions using a boron nitride capsule. The new experimental result shows that the partition coefficient of carbon is several times lower than previous studies, suggesting that carbon in a magma ocean may not have been as depleted.
A team of physicists and engineers measured the tensile strengths of individual structure-defined single-walled carbon nanotubes, finding that their strength depends on both the chiral angle and diameter. The study provides a fundamental insight into developing super-strong and ultra-lightweight materials.
A new study by Imperial College London researchers shows that carbon taxes are insufficient to reduce emissions enough to meet the Paris Agreement targets. The study recommends incentivizing strategies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere alongside carbon taxes.
Scientists have found that rising carbon dioxide concentration in the air enhances land carbon sink, a process known as carbon dioxide fertilization. For every 100-ppm increase in CO2, terrestrial carbon sink increases by 0.64 billion tons of carbon per year globally.
Research reveals that horizontal and vertical circulation of carbon-rich ocean water in the subpolar Southern Ocean work together to control carbon storage and release. The study found that large gyres, such as the Weddell Gyre, play a key role in transporting carbon-containing phytoplankton out of the region.
Researchers developed a new process to form high-value chemicals called amides by coupling carbon and nitrogen bonds in an electrochemical reaction. This breakthrough enables the production of useful substances in various industries, including pharmaceuticals.
A recent study found that water availability in soil determines the direction of carbon-climate feedback, with land carbon uptake increasing below optimal moisture levels and decreasing above them. This discovery provides new insights into the complex relationships between climate change, ecosystem dynamics, and water availability.
A new study found that frequent and large wildfires are releasing stored carbon in boreal forests, transforming them into a source of carbon instead of a sink. This shift has significant implications for global climate change and greenhouse gas levels.
Research finds that older stands of trees protect legacy carbon from burning, while younger stands do not. This shift could change boreal forests from a carbon sink to a source, exacerbating climate change. The study's findings have global implications for future climate scenarios.
A world-leading team reveals ice sheets are no longer passive parts of the Earth's carbon cycle, but reactors that process rock and boost nutrient release. Ice sheets store vast amounts of organic carbon, fuel marine food webs, and influence global carbon sinks.
Researchers found that adding compost and cover crops to organic-certified systems increased soil carbon content by 12.6% over a 19-year period, outperforming the international '4 per 1000' initiative. This approach stores more carbon than previously calculated, highlighting the importance of balancing diet for microorganisms in soils.
A study by the USDA Forest Service and Purdue University finds that non-native invasive insects and diseases are reducing the amount of carbon stored in trees across the United States. The study estimates that 41% of live forest biomass is threatened, with certain species like emerald ash borer and gypsy moth causing significant damage.
A new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers reveals that structurally complex forests in the eastern US outperform simpler ones in carbon sequestration. The discovery suggests that a forest's arrangement of vegetation is a key factor in its ability to absorb and store carbon.
A recent study found that seaweed can travel up to 5000 kilometers beyond coastal areas and sequester significant amounts of carbon. This discovery has significant implications for the global carbon budget and highlights the importance of macroalgae in blue carbon assessments.
Research suggests that wildfires can effectively 'lock away' carbon for years to come through the production of pyrogenic carbon, or charcoal. This process helps compensate for carbon emissions from fires and could provide a significant buffer against future climate change.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new mechanism determining how carbon is stored in soils, which could improve climate resilience and reduce carbon footprints. Soils from ecosystems with higher plant diversity have more pores of the right size for stable carbon storage.
Researchers at Shinshu University have developed a method to improve the properties of activated carbon using high magnetic fields. By applying a magnetic field of 10T during production, they increased the micropore capacity of activated carbon by 35%, making it more effective for air and water purification.
Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a method to directly synthesize graphene from greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The process involves a catalytically active metal surface, resulting in a simple one-step conversion. This breakthrough could lead to the production of valuable materials and contribute to r...
Researchers argue that policymakers should use disturbance ecology to stabilize forest carbon and account for risks in climate change mitigation policies. This approach aims to balance immediate loss with long-term storage, promoting forest carbon sequestration.
Seaweed is found to trap significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with approximately 8.75 grams per square meter of sediment each year. This process contributes to the ocean's 'blue carbon' storage, which helps mitigate climate change.
International study finds that as temperatures rise, trees grow faster but die younger, reducing the amount of carbon they store. This phenomenon has significant implications for global carbon cycle dynamics.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating to track carbon release from thawing permafrost in Siberian-Arctic rivers. The study found that permafrost and peat carbon contributed significantly to dissolved organic carbon in the rivers, with seasonal differences suggesting gradual thaw of surface permafrost as the main source.
A recent study reveals that around 17% of total organic carbon in Siberian rivers originates from thawing permafrost and peat deposits. The research found that particulate organic carbon contributed to more than half of the river's total organic content.
Researchers use carbon nanotube nanoreactors to produce and stabilize metastable silver iodide structures, including rock-salt and helix phases, at ambient conditions. The synthesis provides a new path to the creation of extreme structures.
A new paper outlines critical mechanisms involved in the ocean carbon cycle, specifically the biological pump. Researchers found that particle injection pumps are a more efficient way of pulling carbon from the surface into the deep waters.
Researchers measured high CO2 concentrations in air blowing out to sea from cities and agricultural areas, including Silicon Valley. This process could add 25 million tons of CO2 to the ocean annually, affecting acidity.
Researchers have identified a new pathway for ocean carbon storage, known as particle injection pumps (PIPs), which move just as much carbon as the biological gravitational pump. The study, published in Nature, provides a breakthrough solution to understanding how carbon reaches the deep ocean and its impact on the global climate.