Community | June 23, 2009 | 4 comments

Synthetic Tree Will Hopefully Save the Planet

source: http://gizmodo.com/5300618/synthetic-tree-will-hopefully-capture-tons-of-carbon-dioxide-save...

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Scientists at Columbia University are working on a sort of synthetic tree that aims to capture about 1,000 times as much carbon dioxide as more organic versions. They're hoping to extend the technology even to heavy-emitting cars and planes.

The units, demo versions of which already exist (this is assuredly not a concept), take CO2 in from the air and turn it into liquid, which is easier to store and manage. Professor Klaus Lackner, lead developer, notes that the synthetic trees are not designed to replace, say, coal plants that reduce emissions from the inside, but this could be one very useful plastic plant if it sees mass production.
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4 comments // Synthetic Tree Will Hopefully Save the Planet

  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • Neat idea but I love the real thing. Nature is lovely. Trees do more things than we give them credit for.... no, I've never hugged a tree... unless you count putting a tape measure around it!

    • 2 years ago
  • trecoolatta
    • 0
      trecoolatta  

    • Great idea and all, but isn't the idea behind going green supposed to be a "reduction" in the amounts of plastic and synthetic materials we produce?

      Just throwing it out there...

    • 2 years ago
  • theultimateend
    • 0
      theultimateend  
    • trecoolatta:

      Well it's just a matter of time at this point before a bacteria starts eating the plastic that is all over.

      Not to say we should just throw caution to the wind but anytime there is a huge food source you will find something that starts eating it.

      Hell there are lithovores on earth (organisms that devour rock). Basically if it can be converted into energy it will be converted into energy :). I'd worry more about the side effect.

    • 2 years ago
  • theultimateend
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