Net Zero

Olivine aérolie seen 'weathering' (trapping carbon dioxide over thousands of years) naturally outdoors

Environment

Low-cost method transforms ordinary rocks into carbon dioxide storage

Stanford researchers have found a way to activate commonly found rocks so they capture CO2 out of the air at room temperature. The team believes it could be relatively inexpensive, and can easily scale to help sort our emissions problem worldwide.

COF-999, shown here in its form of a yellow powder

Environment

Miracle powder sucks CO2 out of the air 'like nothing else out there'

Researchers at UC Berkeley have invented a material in powder form that adsorbs carbon dioxide with astonishing performance. Just 200 g (a little under 0.5 lb) can suck up 44 lb (20 kg) of CO2, the same as a tree does in a year.

The net-zero test home at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Environment

Net-zero energy test home ends year-long study with surplus energy

Braving a harsh winter with snow-covered solar panels, a net-zero energy home in Washington DC has come up trumps in a year-long study of its energy harvesting capabilities. Researchers even found enough of a surplus to power an electric car for 1,440 miles (2,317 km).