Even if you don’t know much about science, you’re probably aware that one of the biggest contributors to climate change is the release of carbon dioxide gas, which traps heat into the atmosphere and warming the earth.
But now, a technology called Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can help stop gas molecules from escaping into the atmosphere, according to The New York Times.
How does it work?
When fossil fuels (such as coal) are burned, CO2 molecules are produced and released during the chemical reaction. With CCS, the carbon dioxide molecules are sprayed with a chemical and then the gas is collected in a pipe, which is eventually deposited underneath the Earth in porous rock and sand — where it’s believed to stay trapped underneath a layer of impermeable rock, unable to harm the environment.
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While the process is promising, it’s quite expensive, and it reduces the amount of energy that a power plant produces because of the heat involved. But regardless, CCS does help reduce climate change — perhaps making it worth the cost.
See more here.
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