How Algae Could Change the Race to Save Our Climate
There's no one method that can act as a perfect climate change solution—it will take a variety of options working in tandem. Teenagers and young adults from Monash University in Australia formed Monash Carbon Capture and Conversion (MC3) to develop new technologies and save the planet. These Gen Z students' green initiative uses a three-pronged approach to counteract the climate crisis we face. Their approach utilizes:
Microalgae: This microscopic life can capture carbon dioxide easily and grow at a rapid rate. Once the microalgae absorbed as much CO2 as possible, it is dried and turned into "biochar," a charcoal-like material, that can store carbon for a century or more and help crops grow when mixed with soil.
Forestry: Through photosynthesis, plants naturally capture carbon dioxide, but they can also capture carbon from the soil they're grown in. By using a combination of biochar and soil, MC3 hopes to increase the amount of carbon captured by their crops, bamboo and trees and get them to grow faster, thereby photosynthesizing more and faster. Any fully grown materials from the process are passed on and turned into a cross laminated timber (CLT), a sustainable building material, in order to lock up carbon dioxide within the plants.
Direct Air Capture: The process of making plastics uses petrol and isn't good for the environment. MC3 is using direct air capture technology from the air in order to create a more environmentally-friendly plastic that can be used in consumer goods to lower overall emissions and carbon footprints.
Production Credits:
Writer | Director | Editor | Cinematographer: Benj Binks
Sound Recordist: Sasha Kurovski
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XPRIZE has launched its indie film showcase – a series of short films following XPRIZE Carbon Removal teams and their efforts to pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and oceans and sequester it durably and sustainably.
These videos were produced by independent film-makers through Glimmer to showcase the diversity of teams and solutions in the competition. This series does not serve as an endorsement of any specific team or their XPRIZE entry.
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XPRIZE Carbon Removal is tackling the biggest threat facing humanity – fighting climate change and rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle. Funded by the Musk Foundation, this $100M competition is the largest incentive prize in history.
#ClimateChange #ClimateChangeSolutions #Microalgae #SustainableFuture #CarbonReduction #Carbon
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