Carbon dioxide

A study by Garett Allen and Yung-Che Tseng found that ocean acidification may cause bigfin reef squid brains to shrink by up to 50% in acidic water conditions projected for 2100. The research revealed reduced brain volume, particularly in visually-oriented regions, which could impair hunting behavior due to decreased visual acuity.

A Chinese aerospace start-up, Zhiyu Aerospace Technology (Z-Trak Space), plans to launch a rocket using supercritical carbon dioxide cold-launch technology, the same compound that carbonates Coca-Cola. The method aims to enable low-cost, high-frequency small launch vehicle operations.

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered that the 'Pink Planet,' located 57 light-years away, has an atmosphere containing water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and salty clouds. This finding resolves a mystery that puzzled scientists for over a decade.

The Columbia Energy Center coal plant, initially slated for retirement in 2024, received $19 million from the Trump administration to modernize its operations and extended its closure to 2029. Emissions of pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter significantly increased in 2025, according to Department of Natural Resources records.

Scientists have mapped a vast underground fungal network for the first time, which spans 110 quadrillion kilometers and plays a crucial role in moving carbon dioxide into soils, supporting plants, and regulating the Earth's climate.

São Paulo state has launched a five-year R$30m program to build Brazil’s first plant capturing carbon dioxide from sugarcane ethanol production and storing it underground in rock formations.

The 2025 IGCC report reveals a record-high 10-year average of Earth's energy imbalance, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide reached new highs in 2025, with emissions reaching 56.8GtCO2e in 2024. The report highlights the accelerating pace of global warming due to human activities like fossil fuel use and deforestation.

President Trump's administration is threatening Brazil with tariffs over deforestation in the Amazon, citing unfair trade practices and environmental law violations. The U.S. Trade Representative alleges Brazil's illegal deforestation and labor practices undermine U.S. trade, though Trump remains skeptical of climate change.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is emitting methane, which is unusual for comets. Observations show it is releasing water, carbon dioxide, and methane.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope detected methane and high levels of carbon dioxide in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing unusual chemistry. The methane was hidden beneath the surface and emerged after solar heating.

A UN University report reveals that global data centers consumed 448 trillion watt-hours of electricity in 2023, exceeding all but 10 countries, with CO2 emissions comparable to Argentina. By 2030, energy use and pollution from data centers are projected to double as AI adoption grows, accounting for nearly 3% of global electricity use.

US immigration enforcement flights under Trump's deportation campaign have increased by 80% year-over-year, emitting hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of CO2. These flights transport migrants to detention centers and deport them globally, exacerbating the climate crisis.

Researchers have developed a new porous glass material that can trap CO2 and hydrogen by combining ancient glassmaking techniques with modern chemistry. By adding sodium and lithium compounds, the team made the material more processable and shapeable. This breakthrough has potential applications in clean energy, gas storage, and advanced manufacturing.

Storing carbon dioxide in rocks while producing hydrogen from them could provide a climate benefit, with potential for geothermal power generation. Multiple groups are working to develop this approach.

Scientists at Columbia University discovered that carbon dioxide cools the upper atmosphere by radiating heat into space, unlike its warming effect on Earth's surface. This phenomenon occurs in the stratosphere where certain infrared wavelengths become increasingly effective as CO2 levels rise. The finding helps explain one of climate change's strangest fingerprints.

Scientists discovered a 3 million-year-old climate mystery in Antarctic ice, revealing that Earth's significant cooling, especially in oceans, occurred alongside only modest changes in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This suggests other factors, such as ice sheets, ocean circulation, and Earth's reflectivity, played major roles in long-term climate change.

The UK may experience supermarket shortages this summer due to potential CO2 supply disruptions caused by the Iran war. Government ministers are preparing contingency plans for a 'reasonable worst-case scenario' if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, affecting chicken, pork, and fizzy drink supplies.