Before anyone points out that trees already handle this, let me clarify:<p>We need to pursue all available options simultaneously to effectively combat climate change. This includes:<p><pre><code> Reducing reliance on carbon-based energy to lower emissions.
Implementing carbon capture and long-term storage solutions to remove excess CO₂ from the atmosphere.</code></pre>
It's worth noting that this lab has a lot of patents: <a href="https://yaghi.berkeley.edu/publications.html#patent" rel="nofollow">https://yaghi.berkeley.edu/publications.html#patent</a><p>It's not clear that this particular chemical is subject to a patent application, but they have applied for a patent on the entire class of chemicals: <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220370981A1" rel="nofollow">https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220370981A1</a><p>I'm conflicted about this. while I'm skeptical about most patents this is exactly the kind of invention that patents are supposed to incentivise, and this guy obviously deserves a reward if his invention, like, literally saves the world. But - reading between the lines, while it's effective, it sounds like it's not yet <i>cost effective</i>. And making something cost effective is exactly the kind of thing that patents that restrict development to a single lab (which is what a class patent will do) will cause problems with.<p>Probably the best answer would be for someone rich to buy him out and licence it for free.
News article from Berkley, where it was developed.<p><a href="https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/10/23/capturing-carbon-from-the-air-just-got-easier/" rel="nofollow">https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/10/23/capturing-carbon-from-t...</a>
To counteract the current carbon dioxide emissions, we only have to heat up 30 million metric tons of that stuff from ambient to 60°C every 18.8 minutes. And then figure out what to do with the 1.35 million metric tons carbon dioxide gas cloud we produce every 18.8 minutes.
Related: <i>Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO2 from the air as a tree</i> (21 points, 40 days ago, 45 comments) <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41927684">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41927684</a>
See also: metal organic frameworks. Cheaper to produce and faster at adsorbing.<p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal%E2%80%93organic_framework" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal%E2%80%93organic_framew...</a>
I think such an appliance had already been invented. They are called "trees".<p>All they need to do their work is corporations leaving them alone.