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Earth Sciences

Trapping Carbon Dioxide

Stanford University chemists have unveiled a low-cost, scalable method to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using heat-treated minerals. Unlike conventional carbon capture systems that rely on expensive, energy-intensive processes, this technique utilizes standard industrial kilns—similar to those in cement production—to transform common silicate minerals into highly reactive materials. Early tests indicate that these treated minerals rapidly absorb and lock away CO2, offering a promising alternative to current approaches.

Led by chemistry professor Matthew Kanan and postdoctoral scholar Yuxuan Chen, the team discovered how to accelerate the natural process of silicate weathering, which usually takes thousands of years. By heating silicates with calcium oxide, they created minerals that react with CO2 within weeks or months. When exposed to water and air, these materials form stable carbonate minerals that seal carbon in place, effectively preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere. The researchers are also investigating agricultural applications, where these reactive minerals could serve as an eco-friendly liming substitute while boosting soil quality.

Though the lab currently produces about 15 kilograms of reactive material per week, the method can be scaled up using existing cement kilns and abundant sources of magnesium silicate, including mining waste. In fact, over 400 million tons of suitable mine tailings are generated annually around the globe, providing ample raw material for large-scale operations. Each ton of reactive mineral can remove one ton of CO2, and the team is now exploring electric-powered kilns to avoid fossil fuel emissions altogether. A recent grant will support efforts to refine and commercialize this technology, bringing it closer to real-world deployment.

Pop Culture

History AI

Ever wondered what it was like to live in the past or future? Thanks to AI, TikTok users can (kind of) experience it through POV videos recreating historical moments. From Pompeii’s eruption to the Black Plague, life as a 1900s coal miner, the Titanic, WWII’s Blitz, Chernobyl in 1986, and even England in the 2000s, these clips bring history to life—while some even imagine the future.

Many viral videos come from @timetravellerpov, often starting with “POV: You wake up in…” before revealing the era’s surroundings.

Here’s a sample of waking up as a teen in the ‘80s—does this match how you remember it? Let us know!

@timetravellerpov

POV: You Wake Up As An American Teen in 1983 #history #historytok #ai #80sbaby #CapCut

Environment

King of the Ancient Egyptian Forest’

A nearly complete skull of a prehistoric predator discovered in Egypt’s Western Desert is shedding new light on extinction and climate change. The fossil belongs to Bastetodon syrtos, a newly identified member of the extinct Hyaenodont order—carnivores ranging from terrier-sized to as large as rhinos. Paleontologist Shoruq Al-Ashqar of the American Institute of Cairo, who made the discovery, named the creature after the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. Remarkably well-preserved and three-dimensional, this Bastetodon skull reveals traits that point to an agile predator roaming what were once lush rainforests some 30 million years ago during the late Oligocene.

Like other hyaenodonts, Bastetodon boasted an oversized skull, elongated jaws, and a short neck, with certain species adapted for running. Their dominance once spanned Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America, but they eventually lost out to modern carnivores such as cats and dogs. A leading theory suggests their highly specialized teeth may have restricted their ability to adapt, contributing to their demise. Bastetodon’s skull offers fresh opportunities for researchers to study bite force, brain size, and sense of smell, potentially clarifying why these once-successful hunters ultimately vanished.

The timing of hyaenodont extinction coincides with a global cooling event during the late Oligocene, a period marked by one of history’s smaller mass extinctions. Species unable to cope with changing climates and habitats were replaced by more adaptable newcomers—foreshadowing the environmental challenges apex predators face even today. By illuminating both the remarkable past and the present fragility of top-tier hunters, this discovery underscores the continuing impact of climate-driven change on life’s evolutionary trajectory.

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