"Synthetic trees" to stop global warming?

[AJH032]

I ran across this somewhat old article (from 2003). I don't know what the status is today, but it seems like an interesting idea. It's a synthetic "tree" that can do the job of a normal tree (soak up carbon dioxide) but 1000 times faster. If we don't change our behavior to stop global warming, perhaps this could save us? Anyway, here's the link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2784227.stm

[TAPat]

1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? nt

[valerief]

2. I can't tell if the synthetic tree runs on gasoline or not. n/t

[soothsayer]

3. Well, we need things that convert CO2 to oxygen, and also trees

do other things like draw water to them. We need that to.

[KitSileya]

6. Not to mention keep the earth where it's supposed to be.

Seems like half of Africa is simply blowing away because trees don't bind the earth together anymore. They cut them down for firewood etc, and create deserts in their wake.

A fake tree can never replace a real one in a biosphere. I'm sure that if we divided the food we produce evenly across the planet, and go back to smaller, more efficient farms with diverse crops, we can let parts of the world revert to forrest and jungle. That should help us with O2 and CO2

[oneold1-4u]

4. Algae every type

The world is full of it, but it, like the trees, is diminishing with the use of fertilizers, climate, and pesticides. Algae is 90% or more of the worlds synthesizer of CO2 into O! Thank goodness it still flourishes in the arctic and antarctic and could likely be transplanted into many areas after all toxics are depleted and usage of them stops.
On edit: It is also important for nutrient food for the whole planet including animals and humans.

[nam78_two]

5. interesting/nt

[CATagious]

7. I had been thinking that may be possible...

Global Warming is on my mind alot, mostly because I fear for my 2 year-old daughter's future. I have often thought of a man-made device that would take in CO2 and put out O2 as plants do but at a much faster rate. I had never seen any mention of anyone researching this.. until this thread. Thanks! I hope someone makes a brilliant breakthru and is able to invent soemthing that would take out enough CO2 to ward off catastrophe long enough for us to convert to a "clean" fuel.

I did find a newer article but pretty much the same info; it's from Oct. 2005:

http://www.discover.com/issues/oct-05/features/climate/