How living materials from algae can best capture carbon

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists from TU Delft have discovered optimal growth conditions for microalgae in photosynthetic engineered living materials (ELMs)
• These algae-based materials, capable of converting CO2 into sugars and oxygen, show promise for applications in CO2 capture and oxygen provision for biological tissues

🔭 The context: ELMs with photosynthesizing algae are an emerging class of materials with potential societal impacts
• Challenges in controlling the growth of cells within these materials have limited their larger-scale use
• The research focused on how cell growth is influenced by factors like material shape, light exposure, and access to CO2 and nutrients

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The development of ELMs that efficiently utilize photosynthesis can contribute significantly to CO2 capture and oxygen production
• This innovation aligns with sustainable practices and addresses environmental challenges like high atmospheric CO2 levels

⏭️ What's next: This research paves the way for future interdisciplinary studies in biology, materials science, and engineering to enhance the properties and functionality of photosynthetic ELMs
• It holds potential for diverse applications, including artificial engineering of biological tissues

💬 One quote: "The study of cell growth within ELMs is crucial to their efficient use and optimized functionality," (Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam, Biophysicist, TU Delft)

📈 One stat: Algae, including cyanobacteria, fix approximately 50% of global CO2. This is despite contributing only 1% to global biomass

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