Researchers at Princeton University urge for increased policy support and investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce energy sector emissions. Current storage capacity is insufficient to meet ambitious decarbonization targets, highlighting the need for strategic planning and characterization capabilities.
Researchers from University of Texas at Austin have discovered a way to accelerate the formation of CO2 hydrate structures that can store billions of tons of carbon for centuries. By adding magnesium, these structures form 3,000 times faster than current methods, offering a promising alternative to reduce climate change.
ORNL is increasing its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the US agricultural sector through science-based changes in practices. The lab has discovered a single gene that can make crops more drought-tolerant and productive, while also pulling CO2 from the atmosphere.
A recent study employs machine learning to guide the design of novel materials for CO2 capture, identifying elemental composition and textural properties as key factors. The research team's findings suggest prioritizing adsorption parameters and surface area optimization for high CO2 adsorption efficiency.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that enables the accumulation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in plant cell walls, a potential game-changer for sustainable industrial chemical production. By controlling the expression of this enzyme, plants can be engineered to produce more of this valuable chemical building block.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists developed a method to dispose wastewater safely, reducing the danger of triggering earthquakes. The approach was tested in Italy's largest onshore oil field and found to be sustainable.
Researchers warn that rising temperatures and drought will reduce California's natural ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, potentially limiting the state's progress toward achieving carbon neutrality. The study highlights the importance of present-day drought and wildfire in driving carbon sequestration losses.
Researchers found that geologic formations in northern Delaware Basin, with previous hydrocarbon production, have lower pore pressures and no earthquakes. In contrast, southern basin has higher initial pressures and earthquakes. Targeting these sites for carbon sequestration could limit earthquake risk.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in brackish sediments can 'eat' electricity and absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide. This unusual skill was previously thought to be exclusive to freshwater bacteria, but may be common in marine bacteria.
The UK is investing £30 million in five large-scale greenhouse gas removal projects, including peatland management and biochar use, to complement emission reductions. The projects will assess the effectiveness and scalability of innovative methods to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
Scientists at NREL have demonstrated that white-rot fungi can use carbon captured from lignin as a carbon source, consuming it and utilizing it to grow. This discovery provides another strategy for carbon sequestration in nature.
Researchers found that tidal wetlands accumulate ~54 Tg C yr-1, which is ~30% of the organic C buried on the ocean floor. The study highlights the potential for preserving and rehabilitating mangroves and salt marshes to offset up to 0.6% of current CO2 emissions.
A team of researchers has applied their model to the emergence of Southeast Asia, finding that volcanic rock provinces in the tropics are a major factor in determining CO2 levels. This discovery sheds light on our current climate crisis and provides insights into how geological processes can help mitigate its effects.
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability found that incentives for afforestation in Chile led to an increase in forest plantations but a decrease in the extent of native forests. This research highlights the need for careful policy design and application to protect natural ecosystems.
A recent study found that fragmentation of large organic particles into small ones accounts for roughly half of particle loss in the ocean, controlling sequestration of sinking organic carbon. Sinking particles like plankton and detritus play a critical role in lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
A study by Oregon State University researchers found that preserving temperate forests in the western United States can mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, while also enhancing biodiversity. The identified forests have medium to high potential for carbon sequestration and low future climate vulnerability.
Scientists have found millimeter- to centimeter-sized wood fragments in sediment cores from the Bengal Fan, a large deposit in the Bay of Bengal. This discovery suggests that wood burial at continental margins may be a previously overlooked component of carbon sequestration.
A new study maps 154 land restoration projects in Latin America, revealing their potential to mitigate climate change through forest restoration. The research highlights the importance of natural regeneration and assisted regeneration methods for increasing vegetation cover and biodiversity.
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 new Oregon State University study finds that West Coast forest landowners will gradually shift away from planting Douglas-fir in a warming climate. The share of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest is expected to decline to 25% by the end of the century.
The study found that microbes mediate the microbial carbon pump (MCP), which takes up labile organic carbon and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The MCP's importance may increase under global warming due to changes in planktonic organisms favorable for MCP.
Direct air capture technology captures CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it into fresh fuels, reducing carbon footprint of transportation with minimal disruption. The resulting fuels are compatible with existing infrastructure and have ultra-low life cycle carbon intensities.
Researchers found that capturing and compressing 45 megatons of CO2 from US ethanol biorefineries could be cost-effective at under $25 per ton. Implementing carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in California's low-carbon fuel standards and federal tax credits could catalyze substantial growth of CCS infrastructure.
Policies such as ecological restoration and improved crop residue management have contributed to increased carbon sequestration in China. China's distribution and magnitude of carbon pools vary in response to climate change and human activities.
Researchers are using seismic data collected through a novel real-time monitoring system to track the spread of carbon dioxide underground. The team aims to refine the picture of what's happening underground as carbon dioxide spreads and increases in concentration in different rock features.
Researchers studied the impact of reforestation on carbon sequestration in US topsoils and found that lands undergoing reforestation store increased topsoil carbon. These lands are predicted to sequester 1.3-2.1 petagrams of carbon within a century, offsetting approximately 1% of annual US greenhouse gas emissions.
A North Carolina State University study reveals that fire suppression in Brazilian savannas leads to a loss of plant and ant species, with some species declining by up to 86%. The findings highlight the importance of fire in maintaining biodiversity in tropical savannas.
A new study proposes a simple rule of thumb, or 'carbon law', to rapidly reduce carbon emissions. The authors argue that halving emissions every decade could catalyze disruptive innovation and help achieve the UN's Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C.
A global 'carbon law' aims to halve carbon emissions every decade, peaking by 2020 and falling to zero by 2050. The roadmap also calls for rapid adoption of renewable energy, carbon removal technologies, and sustainable agriculture practices to achieve this goal.
Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a new simulation method to predict the behavior of oil, carbon dioxide, and water in underground reservoirs. The approach can help identify optimal sites for carbon sequestration, which could significantly increase energy supply and combat climate change.
Researchers visualized fluid-fluid displacement in porous media, revealing optimal wettability conditions for efficient displacement. The findings could improve carbon sequestration, oil recovery, and fuel cell performance.
A new study reveals that China's conservation programs have improved ecosystem services, with notable increases in food production and carbon sequestration. However, some areas experienced decreases in habitat provision and air and water quality remained a concern.
A new study by the 2ndFOR Network found that natural processes in Latin American tropical forests can provide a solution to excess carbon dioxide threatening the planet. Regrowth forests increase above-ground carbon storage over time, depending on climate and landscape features.
Researchers investigated how carbon dioxide interacts with host rocks like limestone and sandstone. They found that limestone becomes more permeable when dissolved in saltwater-carbon dioxide mixture, while sandstone's cement degrades.
Researchers at the University of Florida have identified a type of deep-sea bacteria that can convert industrial carbon dioxide into bicarbonate, a process that could help neutralize greenhouse gases. The enzyme produced by the bacterium has high thermal stability, making it suitable for industrial applications.
A type of bacteria, Thiomicrospira crunogena, produces an enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, that can convert industrial carbon dioxide into bicarbonate. The enzyme has high thermal stability and could be used in industrial settings to neutralize greenhouse gases.
A new University of Iowa study found that tree planting in the Twin Cities region offsets only one percent of the area's carbon emissions. The research identified 'hotspots' where trees are scarce and carbon generation is high, suggesting targeted tree-planting efforts may help balance carbon supply and demand.
A team of researchers is using advanced computational models to better understand multiphase flows in porous media. They aim to improve carbon sequestration, mitigate climate change, and optimize energy extraction. By analyzing data from experiments and simulations, the team is developing a multiscale framework to model complex systems.
Large earthquakes cause catastrophic landslides that can persist up to 20-fold after the earthquake, then gradually decrease over time. The magnitude of this response is linked to the size of the earthquake, with shaking-induced damage near Earth's surface and active healing processes playing a key role.
Scientists have discovered that nanoscale forces are responsible for stopping a puddle from spreading, resolving a paradox in fluid flow. This finding has significant implications for various processes, including lubrication of gears and sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers have gained valuable new information about carbonic acid, a critical intermediate species in the equilibrium between carbon dioxide, water, and minerals. The study's findings provide detailed insights into the hydration properties of aqueous carbonic acid, benefiting the development of carbon sequestration technologies.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that polyoxoniobates can degrade and decontaminate nerve agents like sarin gas, making them ideal for protective suits and clothing. The discovery could have significant implications for military and civilian protection against deadly nerve gases.
Researchers have developed a simple yet elegant solution to analyze large amounts of soil DNA data, reducing computational requirements by up to 200-fold. This breakthrough enables scientists to extract more science from the noise, paving the way for new discoveries in fields like agriculture and carbon cycling.
Carbon farming schemes can sequester carbon while providing environmental benefits like reduced pollution, erosion, and improved biodiversity. Local participation is key to long-term success, as it leverages local knowledge and draws in more landholders.
A new study calculates the environmental cost of a ton of mountaintop coal, finding that it pollutes 2,300km of Appalachian streams and loses 193g of carbon sequestration potential. This translates to a staggering 5,000 years for reclaimed mine land to capture equivalent CO2.
A pilot project is testing deep geologic storage of CO2 in ancient basalt flows in southeastern Washington. The goal is to safely and permanently store greenhouse gas emissions, with potential global implications.
Researchers at Kansas State University are studying the geochemical effectiveness of trapping and storing carbon dioxide in the Arbuckle aquifer, a porous rock layer that could permanently store CO2. The study aims to understand how to sequester carbon dioxide and keep it from reaching the atmosphere.
The Illinois Basin – Decatur Project injects 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into sandstone 7,000 feet beneath Decatur, Ill., using innovative science and engaging outreach. The project aims to evaluate the potential of carbon capture and storage techniques and assure public safety.
Carbon capture and storage technology could prevent billions of tons of CO2 emissions each year, but high costs and concerns over safety and permanence hinder its adoption. Stanford scientist Sally Benson emphasizes the need for global scale and monitoring to ensure secure storage.
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium has begun injecting carbon dioxide for the first million-tonne demonstration of carbon sequestration in the US. The CO2 will be stored permanently in the Mt. Simon Sandstone, a saline reservoir with estimated storage capacity of 11-151 billion metric tonnes.
Researchers found significant soil carbon sequestration under Miscanthus on former tilled land and grasslands after two years of planting. This study suggests that Miscanthus can help limit the release of greenhouse gases without adding to the carbon debt.
A four-year project aims to test CO2 injection methods and enhance coalbed methane recovery. The research is part of a larger DOE effort to develop safe and environmentally secure carbon dioxide storage practices.
A Stanford University geophysicist warns that injecting massive amounts of carbon dioxide underground could trigger small- to moderate-sized earthquakes, posing a threat to the reservoirs containing the gas. The issue is particularly concerning for saline aquifers with dense, well-cemented sedimentary rock.
Researchers propose strategies to increase plant efficiency in absorbing light, altering root carbon conversion, and boosting bioenergy crops to combat climate change. The use of genetically engineered plants for carbon sequestration is part of a broader effort to enhance natural biological processes.
Researchers have demonstrated a simple regeneration technique using waste steam, producing concentrated CO2 suitable for sequestration or other use. The study improves stability and efficiency of solid amine materials for high-volume industrial applications.
Large-scale carbon sequestration could help avoid extreme global warming, but its effectiveness is uncertain due to leakage risks. Geological storage appears more effective in delaying climate consequences with minimal CO2 leakage rates.
Researchers at the Carbfix Project have found a way to capture and dissolve CO2 in water, then inject it into basalt rocks where it forms solid carbonates. This method aims to provide a long-term, thermodynamically stable solution for storing excess CO2.
A geochemist raised concerns about the efficiency of carbon storage projects by highlighting the impact of underground chemical reactions on mineral dissolution. Research is needed to analyze reaction rates and affected minerals for better carbon storage project evaluation.
A new set of policy briefs from Carnegie Mellon University recommends a uniform regulatory environment to support large-scale deployment of carbon sequestration technology in the US. The team proposes an adaptive two-stage approach to regulation and specific changes to federal law and agency rules to address regulatory and legal barriers.
New research from Oregon State University finds that fuel reduction treatments in Pacific Northwest forests may reduce carbon sequestration and worsen greenhouse warming. The study suggests that these efforts could lead to a net loss of carbon storage, even if biofuels are used to produce energy.