Scientists in Switzerland have created a new “living” material that contains blue-green algae and could one day be used in buildings to fight climate change, they say.
Thanks to the blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, the new material is photosynthetic. This means it can chemically convert carbon dioxide (CO2), sunlight and water into oxygen and sugars, which promote growth.
In the presence of certain nutrients, the material can also convert CO2 into solid carbonate minerals, such as limestone, the researchers said in a new study, published April 23 in the journal Nature Communications. Over time, these minerals build a robust lattice inside the material that strengthens it and stores carbon in a more stable form than photosynthesis does.
“Writer Fuel” is a series of cool real-world stories that might inspire your little writer heart. Check out our Writer Fuel page on the LimFic blog for more inspiration.
