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Harnessing nature’s carbon engine: Biomass emerges as a pillar of climate mitigation

Bio-based carbon capture offers a 'triple win' for people, planet, and productivity through decentralized systems cutting synthetic fertilizer use by 20-40% and boosting crop yields by 10-25%. Long-term incorporation of biomass into soils via compost and biochar increases soil organic carbon by 10-40%, improving fertility and resilience.

Aboveground rather than belowground productivity drives variability in miscanthus × giganteus net primary productivity

Researchers measured miscanthus × giganteus net primary productivity in both aboveground and belowground structures. They found that aboveground productivity varied among sites, fertilization rates, and calculation assumptions, with yields ranging from 15.4 to 36.4 Mg DM ha–1 year–1.

Locking carbon in trees and soils could help ‘stabilize climate for centuries’ – but only if combined with underground storage

A new study offers a risk management approach to assess carbon removal portfolios and their potential to limit global warming over centuries. The framework suggests combining nature-based carbon storage like forestry with technology-based solutions like Direct Air Capture can provide long-term temperature stabilization.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJoule·DateOct 15, 2025

Study reveals roadmap for carbon-free California by 2045

A Stanford University study reveals a roadmap for California to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, requiring significant advancements in renewable energy generation, energy storage, and low-carbon transportation. The model forecasts the need for 170 gigawatts of new generation and 54 gigawatts of storage by 2045.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnergy Policy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 26, 2025

New DNA test reveals plants’ hidden climate role

Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a method to measure plant roots using DNA technology, revealing their essential role in food production and climate. The new method enables accurate measurement of biomass and species distribution, opening up applications in climate research, plant breeding, and biodiversity analysis.

SourceAarhus University·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateAug 29, 2025

Earth’s natural CO2 vacuum cleaners

An international team of earth scientists proposes a new framework to understand the factors influencing CO2 removal, revealing their complex interactions and potential for enhanced weathering techniques. This integrated approach aims to enhance natural carbon storage, helping achieve Paris Agreement targets.

SourceUtrecht University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeSystematic review·DateAug 7, 2025

Corals in Brazilian archipelago capture carbon equivalent to the burning of 324,000 liters of gasoline per year

A single species of coral in the Alcatrazes Archipelago retains about 20 tons of carbon per year, equivalent to the carbon emissions from burning 324,000 liters of gasoline. This stored carbon can last for centuries or millennia, making subtropical coral reefs like Alcatrazes potential greenhouse gas sinks.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalMarine Environmental Research·DateAug 5, 2025

How do the SOx and NOx in flue gas influence the adsorptive-catalytic performance of integrated carbon capture and in situ dry reforming?

Researchers found that low concentrations of SO2 and NO2 in flue gas improve CO2 capture stability, but high concentrations lead to decreased adsorption capacity and catalytic reforming ability. The study suggests that coating layers of calcium-containing compounds on Ni nanoparticles contribute to deactivation.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2025

High-purity green hydrogen with very low tar from biomass, with chemical looping gasification

A study from the University of Johannesburg presents a promising industrial process that can turn sugarcane waste into green hydrogen with high energy efficiency and low tar content. The Sorption-Enhanced Chemical Looping Gasification (SECLG) process produces a small fraction of unwanted by-products, making it an attractive alternative...

SourceUniversity of Johannesburg·JournalRenewable Energy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 14, 2025

Creating carbon-capturing cement

A team of Penn engineers and materials scientists have developed a biomineral-infused concrete that captures up to 142% more CO2 than conventional mixes while using less cement. The new material is stronger, lighter, and uses fewer materials like cement.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2025

USC technology may reduce shipping emissions by half

A USC-developed shipboard system using limestone and seawater can remove up to half of carbon dioxide emitted from shipping vessels, cutting maritime CO2 emissions by 50%. The process mimics a natural chemical reaction in the ocean, where CO2 is absorbed into water pumped onboard and then neutralized through a bed of limestone.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 26, 2025

Leading scientists: Trees and tech needed for carbon removal to help meet the 2C goal of the Paris agreement

Researchers argue that nature-based solutions like restoring forests and ecosystems are necessary for achieving global climate goals. High-tech CDR methods can complement, not compete with, these natural approaches. A balanced approach is key to meeting the Paris Agreement's temperature goal in a sustainable manner.

SourceClimate Focus·JournalClimate Policy·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 11, 2025

Researchers unveil a groundbreaking clay-based solution to capture carbon dioxide and combat climate change

A team of researchers has discovered a novel method for capturing carbon dioxide using clay minerals, expanding the portfolio of absorbent materials for addressing climate change. The study, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, found that certain types of clay can selectively absorb CO2 from the air at low humidity levels.

SourcePurdue University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·DateJun 4, 2025

Restoring oil wells back to nature with moss

Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a method to restore tens of thousands of oil and gas exploration sites in western Canada using native moss. The technique involves transplanting moss onto decommissioned well pads, effectively recreating peatlands and supporting ecosystem development.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalEcological Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2025

Hard-to-avoid emissions: Limited potential for marine carbon dioxide removal in Germany’s seas

A new study finds that ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage in German waters is feasible but with limitations, such as local marine conditions and required materials, energy, and infrastructure. Only five methods were shortlisted for implementation in German North Sea and Baltic waters.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalEarth's Future·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 29, 2025