Science Magazine Podcast

Basic geoengineering, and autonomous construction robots

Nov 30, 2023

Exploring the idea of increasing ocean alkalinity to capture carbon and its potential impacts on climate change and ecosystems. Discussing the benefits of autonomous construction robots in reducing energy costs and enabling remote construction on Mars. Highlighting the concept of alkalinity enhancement as a method of geoengineering and the challenges associated with it. Exploring the urgent need to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and the potential of autonomous construction robots to repurpose construction debris. Discussing a robot-built stone wall in Zurich and its benefits in terms of reducing environmental impact and potential space applications. Exploring how industrial robots are revolutionizing architecture and enabling the construction of complex structures.

34:54

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Quick takeaways

Increasing the alkalinity of the ocean can enhance carbon capture and storage, but there are concerns about scalability and ecological impacts.

Autonomous construction robots using found materials can reduce energy costs and waste, promoting circularity in construction.

Deep dives

Increasing the alkalinity of the ocean as a geoengineering approach

Research is being conducted on increasing the alkalinity of the ocean to capture more carbon and mitigate climate change. The process involves growing carbon-absorbing organisms in the ocean, which sink and store carbon deep in the ocean. Additionally, adding alkalinity to the ocean can accelerate the absorption of CO2 and create more room for carbon storage. However, the tactic raises questions about its scalability, potential harm to ecosystems, and overall effectiveness in addressing climate change.

Introduction

3min

Enhancing Alkalinity: A Solution to Ocean Carbon Capture

16min

The Need for CO2 Removal and Autonomous Construction Robots

3min

Autonomous Construction Robot: Building Walls with Recycled Materials

9min

Industrial Robots and the Complexity of Architecture

2min

Raising the pH of the ocean to reduce carbon in the air, and robots that can landscape

First up on this week’s show, Contributing Correspondent Warren Cornwall discusses research into making oceans more alkaline as a way to increase carbon capture and slow climate change. But there are a few open questions with this strategy: Could enough material be dumped in the ocean to slow climate change? Would mining that material release a lot of carbon? And, would either the mining or ocean changes have big impacts on ecosystems or human health?

Next, we hear from Ryan Luke Johns, a recent Ph.D. graduate from ETH Zürich, about why we want robots building big rocky structures from found materials: It reduces energy costs and waste associated with construction, and it would allow us to build things remotely on Mars.

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

About the Science Podcast

Authors: Sarah Crespi; Warren Cornwall

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.z66mytn

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