With the Earth experiencing global climate change and its consequences, we cannot help but wonder what we can do to alleviate its damages. Carbon dioxide, for example, has been one of the hottest discussions topics due to its increase levels in the Earth's atmosphere, therefore affecting the rise in temperature. Recently, researchers at the University of California have found a way to bring about oxygen molecules and carbon atoms from carbon dioxide, rather than oxygen atoms and carbon molecules. For years, scientists have been looking for ways to extract oxygen from carbon dioxide, a mechanism like that of a plant. However, this method is depended upon a non-biological approach, the use of VUV, or vacuum ultraviolet light – the shortest wavelength of ultraviolet light. VUV is required in laser beam form, to be shot at carbon dioxide molecules to break them apart. This would cause about 5% of carbon dioxide to result in oxygen molecules and carbon atoms, with the rest following the traditional chemical reaction. Though the results yielded are small, this discovery can have extensive uses, including, but not limited to, explaining how the Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere came to existence and eliminating the need to bring oxygen tanks for astronauts.
I picked this article because of the potential it offers. With climate changes at our doorsteps, I thought this article was fitting.
Submitted by Tram Dao
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