posted in Technology
Plasma and electricity convert CO₂ into methanol, butane and other useful chemicals
phys.org/news/2026-09-plasma-electricity-methanol-butane-chemicals.htmlReplying to @Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world
This means if we get fusion working, we could have enough energy to scrub the atmosphere of carbon and turn it back into gasoline.
Could literally have our cake and eat it too but that would mean that oil execs would be too poor to molest kids without repercussions
In theory, but I think gasoline is probably the least useful product you could make with it. It would just be a wasteful process to keep outdated engines alive.
Replying to @glasratz@feddit.org
Isn’t it necessary in the production of plastic? Presumably with still need it for that.
Replying to @glasratz@feddit.org
Hydrocarbons are one of the best energy stores available. We also have large networks already set up to distribute and use them. Being able to dump large amounts of excess energy into hydrocarbons as energy storage and feedstock would be a big gain for saving the planet.