Scientists invent a solid carbon-negative building material

Building CO2 into the buildings

Photo collage of seawater, electricity arcing, carbon dioxide molecules and a scientist looking through a microscope
Scientists have created carbon-neutral building material from seawater and electricity
(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

Construction is on its way to becoming greener. New research describes a method of creating building material that is not only carbon-neutral — meaning it does not produce any carbon emissions — but also carbon-negative, meaning it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. The discovery comes at a time when reducing humans' carbon footprint is more important than ever.

A spark in the sea

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.