My microalgae lamp absorbs CO2!

Shamengo pioneer Pierre Calleja has invented something truly remarkable--an algae lamp that absorbs CO2 in the air--at the rate of 1 ton PER YEAR, or what a tree absorbs over its entire lifetime! While development is still needed to make a cost-effective product, the microalgae streetlamp has the potential to provide significantly cleaner air in urban areas and revolutionize the cityscape.

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• Category

  Science & Technology

[Shaun Dreclin]

So... It's a lamp with plants around it. Why does it need to be a lamp at all? This should be marketed as a way of cleaning air, not as a light source. By the title I assumed the algae were bio-luminescent. THAT would be awesome.

[Physcojoe]

Honestly I mostly agree, I don't really understand the idea of using them as lamps? I mean... it's basically a light surrounded by a fish tank. When I first saw this, I thought it was bioluminescent algae that consumed CO2 and produced light WITHOUT electricity, seeing that it's just a lamp now I agree it seems like a gimmick. If someone could engineer bioluminescent algae tanks that produced light and consumed CO2 that weren’t too expensive to maintain, now THAT would be something!!!

[AdamBombStudios]

sssssshhhhh, don't complain. I want cyberpunk style green lit city streets.

[CJCA915]

I would say yes, we exhale Carbon Dioxide, plants absorb it and they release Oxygen which is what we breathe, granted, we don't breath pure Oxygen, pure Oxygen would kill us.

[RustyClouglin]

The C.....duh! :P A cubic meter is around 1.4 kilograms as far as I know.

[Ed Thayer]

No you arrogant azz. The rate at which this algae absorbs CO2 is amazing. It just seems there would be a waste product in the process. I guess I've never heard of O2 measured in pounds. Would it be 1 for 1 with regard to what is absorbed and what is given off?

[BOBMAN1980]

You really need to know what plants release after 'breathing in' CO2? Honestly?

[laughbox jones]

no one thouught about it?ahem