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alizenweed t1_j91rt7l wrote

Reply to comment by Cyber_Dan in Scientists have figured out a way to engineer wood to trap carbon dioxide through a potentially scalable, energy-efficient process that also makes the material stronger for use in construction by giuliomagnifico

Tress die and then decompose. CO2 goes back to atmosphere.

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DrSmirnoffe t1_j91ty5b wrote

But do you know what they also do?

They spread their seeds and make more trees. Those trees then soak up more CO2, which goes into making more wood and tree-seeds. Gee, it's almost like a cycle! A CARBON cycle!

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sillypicture t1_j924ogg wrote

Reddit needs to remember that microbes in the ocean store several orders of magnitude more carbon and also generate that much more oxygen than all the trees.

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ExtantPlant t1_j91yy46 wrote

You're on the wrong sub to be posting that nonsense. First of all, the root system of a tree is usually about as big as the tree is above ground. The carbon stored there should mostly remain in the soil. Second, "used in construction" would store that carbon semi-permanently. Third, even if they were left to decompose, that's not how the decomposition process works at all.

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squanchingonreddit t1_j92axo6 wrote

As someone with a degree in forestry, you're right. Sorry they're down dootin.

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