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Surrey’s carbon capture technology could help the UK rival global competitors in race to produce clean fuel from air

Researchers at the University of Surrey developed a cost-effective method for removing CO2 from the air and converting it into synthetic fuel. The Dual-Function Material (DFM) process has been shown to be financially competitive with established industry methods, offering a promising route to decarbonize industries.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalApplied Energy·DateApr 3, 2025

New carbon-negative material could make concrete and cement more sustainable

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new carbon-negative building material that can be used to manufacture concrete, cement, plaster, and paint. By converting CO2 into solid, durable materials using electricity and seawater, the material not only stores CO2 but also produces clean hydrogen gas.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Sustainable Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2025

SwRI, U-Michigan engineers create more effective burner to reduce methane emissions

Researchers at SwRI and U-M have created a new methane flare burner using additive manufacturing and machine learning that eliminates 98% of methane vented during oil production. The burner's design, with a complex nozzle base and impeller, allows for efficient combustion even in challenging crosswind conditions.

SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 3, 2025

New process gets common rocks to trap carbon rapidly, cheaply

Stanford researchers have developed a practical and low-cost method to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide from the air using common minerals. The new process, known as enhanced weathering, uses heat to transform silicates into materials that capture and store CO2, offering a potentially scalable solution to mitigate global warming.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2025

The opportunity costs of carbon capture

A recent study by Stanford University researchers found that deploying carbon capture technologies would be more expensive and harmful than transitioning to renewable energy sources. The authors compared two extreme scenarios: a complete switch to renewable energy versus maintaining current fossil fuel reliance with some renewables, nu...

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 13, 2025

The opportunity costs of carbon capture

The study found that widespread deployment of carbon capture technology would be more costly and harmful than a global switch to renewable energy. Researchers calculated that replacing fossil fuels with renewables could reduce energy needs by over 54% and avoid hundreds of millions of illnesses and 5 million deaths per year.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 9, 2025

Fungi’s hidden power: How fungal biomass holds carbon in soil across ecosystems for millennia

This study explores fungal biomass's role in stabilizing carbon in soils, showing a strong correlation between microbial biomass and reactive mineral-associated carbon. Fungal necromass interacts with nanoparticles to further stabilize the carbon after death, proposing a new conceptual model for hypha-mineral interactions.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2025

Turning carbon emissions into methane fuel

Chemists at Ohio State University have developed a novel way to capture and convert carbon dioxide into methane, utilizing nickel-based catalysts and reducing the need for massive amounts of energy. This breakthrough could pave the way for more efficient climate mitigation technologies and help close the carbon cycle.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Three pathways to achieve global climate and sustainable development goals

A new study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and IIASA scientists suggests that there are three promising routes to make significant progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The study's results show that all three pathways are far more effective than current 'business as usual' scen...

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 5, 2024

Newly discovered cyanobacteria could help sequester carbon from oceans and factories

Researchers have discovered a novel strain of cyanobacteria that can grow rapidly in high-CO2 environments, sink in water, and produce valuable commodities. The 'Chonkus' strain has traits useful for biologically-based carbon sequestration and bioproduction.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 29, 2024

With support from the Joint Fire Science Program, new Cary Institute-led project will inform firefighting efforts to maximize carbon storage in Alaskan refuge

Researchers will map carbon distribution, identify high-risk areas, and inform fire suppression strategies to maximize carbon storage in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The project aims to address the growing threat of permafrost thaw, which could release 1,700 billion metric tons of carbon.

Discovery of 3,775-year-old preserved log supports ‘wood vaulting’ as a climate solution

A University of Maryland-led study found that burying wood in the right environmental conditions can stop its decomposition and help curb carbon dioxide emissions. The researchers analyzed a 3,775-year-old log and surrounding soil, revealing that it had lost less than 5% carbon dioxide thanks to the low-permeability clay soil.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2024

Can we reduce carbon dioxide emissions by simply allowing forests to recover?

Researchers found that regrowing tropical forests on pastureland can reduce soil carbon emissions by nearly two-fold, offering a quick win in the fight against climate change. This unexpected finding is attributed to warmer temperatures experienced by soils in pastureland, which may explain higher carbon dioxide emissions.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalForest Ecology and Management·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 13, 2024

Breakthrough insights into carbon dioxide absorption using cement-based materials

Researchers discovered that structural changes and mass transfer play a crucial role in the carbonation process of cement-based materials. The study found that lower humidity conditions and high Ca/Si ratios result in smaller pores, suppressing ion leaching and improving carbonation efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to developin...

SourceChiba University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024