"Unleashing the potential of ocean carbon capture for combating climate change"

In a quest to combat the climate crisis, companies worldwide are turning their attention to the vastness of Earth's oceans. These companies are looking to harness the natural ability of the seas to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As it stands, the oceans already soak up about 30% of the CO2 emitted by human activities annually. This makes seawater a concentrated source of the greenhouse gas, about 150 times more so than the air we breathe.

The innovative approach involves capturing CO2 from seawater, with companies exploring various chemical processes to achieve this goal. One example is Captura, a startup based in California, which employs a method where seawater is subjected to a reactor using electricity. This process converts a portion of the seawater into acid and base. The acid then reacts with bicarbonate in the remaining seawater, leading to the release of CO2, which is subsequently captured and stored beneath the sea floor. The neutralized seawater is then returned back to the ocean, further aiding in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. This approach accelerates the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, as explained by Nicholas Ward, an oceanographer collaborating with Ebb Carbon, another California-based startup.

The use of renewable electricity in capturing CO2 from seawater presents an eco-friendly and potentially cost-effective solution to reduce carbon emissions and combat global warming. By exploring novel techniques to extract carbon from the oceans, these companies are paving the way for innovative strategies in climate change mitigation.

On another front, a promising study published in Science sheds light on a possible solution to combat tuberculosis in cattle. Tuberculosis, a deadly infectious disease affecting millions of people globally, also poses a threat to cattle populations. By administering the BCG vaccine, traditionally used in humans for over a century, researchers have found that vaccinated cows are less likely to transmit bovine tuberculosis to their herd mates. This discovery offers a practical approach to reducing the spread of the disease among cattle populations, which could have significant implications for animal health and food security.

Furthermore, in the realm of materials science, researchers have developed groundbreaking materials that could revolutionize medical device implants. These materials possess both biodegradable properties and exceptional piezoelectric abilities, making them ideal for applications in medical implants that can degrade naturally within the body. The development of such materials holds immense potential for improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for additional surgeries to remove implanted devices.

In a fascinating study exploring the social dynamics of spotted hyenas, researchers have uncovered intriguing insights into how a hyena's social status may influence its genetic expression. By analyzing fecal samples from high and low-ranking hyenas, scientists discovered variations in gene methylation patterns associated with social hierarchy. This finding suggests a link between social status and genetic expression in hyenas, providing a unique perspective on the influence of social dynamics on genetic regulation in wildlife.

With these innovative studies and advancements in diverse fields of science, researchers are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and offering promising solutions to address pressing challenges facing our planet and its inhabitants.

Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-can-capturing-carbon-seas-solve-climate-crisis