PHYSICAL TREATMENTS: Synthetic Trees Could Capture CO2.

A Columbia University (Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, 918 Seeley Mudd Building, 500 West 120th St, New York, NY 10027; Tel: 212/854-0304, Fax: 212/854-7081) physicist proposes constructing synthetic trees to function similarly to natural ones and draw carbon dioxide from the air. Unlike the living variety, however, the artificial foliage would trap the carbon and retain it, and would not release oxygen.

According to Professor Klaus Lackner, the challenge of mitigating greenhouse gas-induced climate change cannot be addressed solely by transitioning to hydrogen-based fuels. Reliance on fossil fuels will not decrease soon, he says, and developing …