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Pulling carbon into seawater using engineered bacteria

A research team at the Wyss Institute has engineered bacteria to produce higher amounts of siderophores, molecules that extract iron from silicate minerals, speeding up rock weathering and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. This process has the potential to be implemented at industrial scales, offering a new climate-regulating strategy.

UCSB-led international team evaluates anoxic marine basins as potential sites for carbon sequestration

A recent international workshop led by UC Santa Barbara researchers has taken the first steps toward developing a large-scale strategy for carbon sequestration by burying plant biomass in anoxic marine basins. The concept, known as marine anoxic carbon storage (MACS), has the potential to operate at a massive scale required to mitigate...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBiogeosciences·DateJul 27, 2026

New electrochemical device targets climate change by sucking CO2 out of air

A new collaborative study has developed an electrochemical device that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere using electricity and water-based chemistry, addressing the planet's excess CO2 problem. The technology is designed to reduce new emissions and remove CO2 that has already accumulated in the atmosphere.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJul 13, 2026

New pantropical carbon database to support more complete UN climate reporting on forest degradation and regeneration

A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the impact of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, while preserving forest structure enhances carbon recovery.

SourceGFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 3, 2026

New pantropical carbon database to support more complete UN climate reporting on forest degradation and regeneration

A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the effects of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, accumulating more above-ground carbon over time.

SourceGFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 3, 2026

Wa'ed ventures backs KAUST spinout terraxy to scale desert greening technology

Terraxy, a KAUST spinout, has secured $3 million in funding to scale its desert greening technology, which can deliver up to 70% improvement in plant growth and yield. The investment will support the establishment of a commercial facility in Al Zulfi and enable the deployment of its proprietary soil enhancer, Carbosoil.

Tropical primary forest plants up-regulate root exudation to adapt to long-term high nitrogen deposition

A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity, mineralize organic P, and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. This adaptation helps alleviate P limitation under long-term N enrichment, sustaining productivity.

SourceSouth China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 27, 2026

Biochar's chemical footprint: How tiny particles can undermine climate benefits

Research from Northwest A&F University reveals that different biochars create hotspots of reactive chemicals in soil, increasing nitrous oxide emissions. The study found that the size of particles released by biochar dictates ROS-generating mechanisms, affecting its performance in mitigating greenhouse gases.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2026

Watching carbon capture in action

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have built an instrument that lets them study direct air capture (DAC) in detail. The custom-designed laboratory flow cell enables accurate spatial mapping of the reaction's kinetics in real-time, shedding light on how efficiently the system works and how it should be designed.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalACS Energy Letters·DateMay 19, 2026

New reactor design produces renewable methane from carbon dioxide

A new reactor design efficiently converts carbon dioxide into methane using microbial electrosynthesis systems, achieving high energy efficiency and scalability. The system produces nearly two gallons of methane per liter of reactor volume per day, making it a potential pathway for converting CO2 into a storable fuel.

SourcePenn State·JournalWater Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2026

EU rules could make fossil-free aviation fuels unnecessarily expensive and energy-intensive

The EU's plans for domestic production of fossil-free aviation fuels risk steering development towards more expensive and energy-intensive pathways. A study from Chalmers University of Technology found that the current regulatory framework favours combustion-based alternatives over gasification, leading to increased costs and energy use.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalFuel·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 14, 2026

A financing model for permanent carbon removal

A new regulatory and financial architecture is needed to support novel carbon dioxide removal technologies, such as biochar and direct air capture. A tiered auction framework suggests governments setting targets and minimum quality standards, then running reverse auctions that specify target volumes and price ceilings.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 12, 2026

Carbon markets risk penalizing First Nations stewardship

A coalition of experts warns that carbon markets may be penalizing First Nations' long-term stewardship due to their 'additionality' requirements. The definition of 'additionality' often rewards restoration on degraded land, excluding protected ecosystems and traditional owners' custodianship.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 5, 2026

Oxygen-modified graphene filters boost natural gas purification

Researchers at Chiba University developed oxygen-functionalized graphene membranes that selectively separate carbon dioxide from methane while maintaining high permeability. The study demonstrates the potential of graphene-based filtration systems for next-generation gas purification, enabling cheaper and cleaner energy production.

SourceChiba University·JournalCarbon·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2026

Land-intensive carbon removal requires better siting to protect biodiversity

The study reveals that up to 13% of areas allocated to land-based carbon removal could overlap with important biodiversity sites in ambitious emissions reduction scenarios. Effective implementation of reforestation and BECCS can reduce the long-term loss of biodiversity due to climate factors by up to 25%, producing net benefits.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 30, 2026

Shrubs curb carbon emissions in China’s largest desert

A 40-year greening project in China's Taklamakan Desert has successfully reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and increased solar-induced fluorescence, indicating a measurable carbon sink. The project demonstrates the potential of afforestation to mitigate climate change, despite being only a small dent in global emissions.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 26, 2026

Increased soil salinity alters global inorganic carbon storage

A new study finds that soil salinization influences inorganic carbon storage, particularly in regions with elevated salinity. The research reveals a conditional relationship between salinity and inorganic carbon, highlighting the need to incorporate soil chemical processes into global carbon assessments.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 22, 2026

Jeonbuk National University researchers highlight advancements in chemical looping fluidized bed reactors

Researchers highlight advancements in fluidized bed design, oxygen carrier materials, and performance of chemical looping systems. They emphasize the importance of controlling fluidization regime and developing physical standards for oxygen carriers.