MIT engineers have developed a nanofiltration-based solution that boosts the efficiency of carbon capture and release systems by up to 6x. Traditional systems face a tradeoff: compounds that capture CO₂ efficiently don’t release it easily, and vice versa. The new design adds a filtration step that separates hydroxide and carbonate ions, allowing both capture and release phases to operate under optimal conditions. This innovation lowers carbon capture costs from ~$600/ton to ~$450/ton and improves system stability — a potential breakthrough for direct air capture and industrial decarbonization. The approach is compatible with existing infrastructure and could be key to scaling carbon removal globally. (fb)

In Astrobiology Revealed Issue 21, Aubrey Zerkle interviewed Shuya Tan "on why microbes might be metal-starved in Enceladus’ ocean" (fb)