Photoferrotrophs and Climate Change

[Ahanu]

Interesting article.

"Bacteria found in brackish sediments can 'eat' electricity and, in the process, absorb and lock away climate-warming carbon dioxide, research finds.

Global oceans absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Electricity-eating bacteria known as photoferrotrophs could provide a boost to this essential process, according to the study."​

Perhaps we can engineer this process with biotechnology and lock away CO2.

 

[wil]

Well we have been elinimating swamps to create farmland or cities pretty much since we landed in the states...

All of downtown DC was such...so if we get rid of the Capitol and White house, the Senate and house office buildings and each building that houses any 3 letter agency or govt building in DC and return it to brackish waters...that wil help?

 

[juantoo3]

Well we have been elinimating swamps to create farmland or cities pretty much since we landed in the states...

All of downtown DC was such...so if we get rid of the Capitol and White house, the Senate and house office buildings and each building that houses any 3 letter agency or govt building in DC and return it to brackish waters...that wil help?

It will help only if the swamp creatures stay in the swamp while it is backfilled...If they escape the problem will only change location.

 

[wil]

It will help only if the swamp creatures stay in the swamp while it is backfilled...If they escape the problem will only change location.

Let archeologists dig.up petrified politicians.

 

[juantoo3]

Interesting article.

"Bacteria found in brackish sediments can 'eat' electricity and, in the process, absorb and lock away climate-warming carbon dioxide, research finds.

Global oceans absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Electricity-eating bacteria known as photoferrotrophs could provide a boost to this essential process, according to the study."​

Perhaps we can engineer this process with biotechnology and lock away CO2.

You do realize this is the equivalent of frankenfood? It would require the destruction of habitat to create a monocultured area large enough to make a difference, likely spread around the globe, meaning loss of wildlife, spawning grounds, rookeries and extinction of whole species to achieve. Easier and better for the planet to just complete the pipeline.

 

[RJM]

Removed. Wrong forum

 

[stranger]

Removed. Wrong forum

I hear you there.

 

[Ahanu]

You do realize this is the equivalent of frankenfood? It would require the destruction of habitat to create a monocultured area large enough to make a difference, likely spread around the globe, meaning loss of wildlife, spawning grounds, rookeries and extinction of whole species to achieve. Easier and better for the planet to just complete the pipeline.

Maybe you're right. On the other hand, maybe the process can be replicated without doing harm to the environment.

Technology often goes through multiple iterations. Blockchains, for example, have become much more energy efficient than in the earlier days of Bitcoin. Also, people once opposed electricity since it caused fires and other problems for the local environment.

 

[juantoo3]

... electricity since it caused fires and other problems for the local environment.

You mean like the multiple major wildfires that ravaged Southern California the past few years due to overloaded power lines?

Perhaps the better analogy is gas lighting used in England at the turn of the 20th Century...you know, that utility that was deemed too dangerous and outlawed.

Any technology will have drawbacks. But what you are suggesting (the world's oceans cover something like 4/5ths of the planet, and *only* consume 25% of the carbon released today...when in 20 years China and India will likely double or triple that number and the ocean remains the essentially the same) would require converting inter-tidal zones into monocultured "fields" to raise this engineered bacteria. The problem is that the inter-tidal zones - which humans think of as wasted land - is the incubator and nursery for so many species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. Therefore it would require wiping out so many animal species over some politically incited paranoia that the "cure" would be worse than the disease. Once those incubator zones are destroyed, those animals don't come back.

 

[Ahanu]

You mean like the multiple major wildfires that ravaged Southern California the past few years due to overloaded power lines?

This problem reflects the United State's archaic and crumbling infrastructure built in a bygone era rather than today's technology. Besides, today the US builds most commercial and residential developments with an underground infrastructure, which prevents the problem of wildfires. However, it is very expensive to replace powerlines with this method. Some have proposed placing wind turbines near cities affected by wildfires or at high risk of wildfires to mitigate the problem. This creates shorter transmission lines. Those with the money might purchase a Tesla Powerwall system to go off the grid.

Any technology will have drawbacks. But what you are suggesting (the world's oceans cover something like 4/5ths of the planet, and *only* consume 25% of the carbon released today...when in 20 years China and India will likely double or triple that number and the ocean remains the essentially the same) would require converting inter-tidal zones into monocultured "fields" to raise this engineered bacteria. The problem is that the inter-tidal zones - which humans think of as wasted land - is the incubator and nursery for so many species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. Therefore it would require wiping out so many animal species over some politically incited paranoia that the "cure" would be worse than the disease. Once those incubator zones are destroyed, those animals don't come back.

I'm suggesting we study the process, and that perhaps the process can be replicated some other way once it is well understood.

 

[juantoo3]

Those with the money might purchase a Tesla Powerwall system to go off the grid.

Sounds nice, except where local ordinances either outlaw or otherwise discourage going off the grid. Most states mandate new construction *must* be connected to utilities, exceptions maybe for things like hunting cabins or travel trailers not intended for full time occupancy. In my city, which owns its own utility, anyone who installs solar panels for example, are levied a special tax that eliminates any cost savings, and refuses to buy back any surplus...totally negating any possible benefit. And this is in a progressive, liberal college town. (No contradiction there... )

I'm suggesting we study the process, and that perhaps the process can be replicated some other way once it is well understood.

There are all kinds of interesting concepts in the lab, but real world application is where things get dicey.