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Harnessing Sunlight: A Breakthrough in Carbon Capture Technology

Scientists at Cornell University have developed a groundbreaking method to capture and release carbon dioxide using an energy source that’s abundant, clean, and free: sunlight. This innovative approach mimics the way plants store carbon, making it a game-changer in the fight against global warming.

The research team, led by Phillip Milner, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, has created a light-powered system that can separate carbon dioxide from industrial sources. They’ve used sunlight to make a stable enol molecule reactive enough to “grab” the carbon, and then driven an additional reaction to release the carbon dioxide for storage or reuse.

This is the first light-powered separation system for both carbon capture and release, and it has significant implications for reducing costs and net emissions in current methods of carbon capture. The team tested their system using flue samples from Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Building, and it was successful in isolating carbon dioxide, even with trace contaminants present.

Milner is excited about the potential to remove carbon dioxide from air, which he believes is the most practical application. “Imagine going into the desert, you put up these panels that are sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and turning it into pure high-pressure carbon dioxide,” he said. This could then be put in a pipeline or converted into something on-site.

The research team is also exploring how this light-powered system could be applied to other gases, as separation drives 15% of global energy use. “There’s a lot of opportunity to reduce energy consumption by using light to drive these separations instead of electricity,” Milner said.

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Carbontech Development Initiative, and Cornell Atkinson. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize carbon capture technology and make it more efficient, effective, and sustainable.

Reviving the Ancient Charm: Unlocking the Secrets of Ferns with the PteridoPortal

The Florida Museum of Natural History has partnered with 35 herbarium collections across the United States to create a web portal for ferns. Yes, you read that right – ferns! The plants with curly leaves that grow in shady places have been around for over 400 million years, developing roots and leaves before dinosaurs even existed.

Ferns, along with their related group called lycophytes, were the first to evolve the botanical equivalent of a circulatory system. This allowed them to grow into the first trees, altering Earth’s barren landscapes by breaking up rock with their roots and dissolving it in acid. The process pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, causing an ice age and resulting in the second mass extinction of life on Earth.

Today, there are over 10,000 species of ferns and lycophytes, making them the second-most diverse group of vascular plants. “You can’t understand plant diversity without including ferns,” says Michael Sundue, an integrative taxonomist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Scotland.

The PteridoPortal, a collaborative effort funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to create an online repository for information about fern specimens stored in museums around the world. The portal has already digitized hundreds of thousands of records, making it indispensable for biologists studying diversity.

One of the project’s primary scientists, Sundue, is working on an inventory of the fern and lycophyte diversity of Colombia. Before embarking on expeditions, researchers searched the PteridoPortal for ferns from the areas they planned to visit, creating a list with images of what to look for. Information about specimens collected goes directly into the portal, where it’s immediately available to other users.

The PteridoPortal is open to everyone, and other institutions have agreed to share their data, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, and ETH Zurich in Switzerland. Future collaborative efforts are likely to follow.

As we continue into Earth’s sixth mass extinction event, it’s imperative for scientists to deploy every tool they have to document what’s left and prevent future losses. “If we don’t continue to learn and teach people about biodiversity, no one will notice when it disappears,” Sundue says. The PteridoPortal is a crucial step in this journey, unlocking the secrets of ferns and inspiring collaboration among researchers worldwide.

The ghost pipe, scientifically known as Monotropa uniflora, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries in the United States. However, its collection, consumption, and efficacy remain a mystery. A recent study by Penn State researchers has shed light on the modern use of this peculiar forest plant.

According to the study published in Economic Botany, social media and the internet have become primary sources of information and learning for individuals who harvest and consume ghost pipe. The researchers conducted a digital survey within the United States, which received responses from 489 individuals. Most respondents identified as consumers of ghost pipe (96%), and a significant number also reported being foragers or both.

The study found that pain management was the most commonly reported reason for consuming ghost pipe. However, respondents also mentioned using the plant for various other purposes, such as:

* As a sedative to help with sleep
* Enhancing relaxation
* Managing depression or grief
* Easing anxiety or trauma
* Reducing eye irritation
* Lessening symptoms of alcohol or opiate withdrawal

These results suggest that the internet has become an essential platform for learning and sharing ghost pipe ethnobotany, which is the study of the relationship between people and plants. The researchers also coined the term “digital ethnobotany” to describe the development of traditional knowledge and practices within virtual environments.

The ghost pipe’s unique biochemistry and pain-relieving properties make it a promising candidate for further research. As one of thousands of traditional medicinal plants worldwide, it has not had its specific chemistry studied, leaving a significant biochemical frontier waiting to be explored.

The researchers are now working on characterizing the specific chemistry and bioactivity of ghost pipe through their dissertation work. Their goal is to identify the specific pain-relieving compounds in the plant and explore its potential as a novel therapeutic or medicine.

The study highlights the need for further research into the use and trade of ghost pipe, considering the growing influence of digital platforms on its harvesting and consumption. As the researchers note, “We need to determine whether or not it has potential as a novel therapeutic or medicine.”