Scientists have accidentally discovered a bowl-shaped molecule that pulls carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air. Scientists are hopeful that the discovery of the molecule that captures CO2 from air can help in dealing with global warming, and developing genetically engineered CO2 catching microbes.  

The bowl-shaped molecule which pulls CO2 from air was discovered by a team of scientists led J.A. Tossell, a Maryland University scientist, while they were doing research, which was not focused on global climate change.

In the study, Tossell and his team noted that carbon dioxide (CO2) was collecting in a bowl-shaped molecule, and the CO2 was coming from air in the lab. The scientists discovered the CO2 collecting qualities of the molecule.

Tossell and his team concluded that these qualities of the molecule can help to make an industrial absorbent for removing carbon dioxide, or an absorbent for carbon dioxide from electric power plants and other smoke stacks. The molecule can be helpful for removing carbon dioxide directly from air. The finding of study – the accidental discovery of CO2 capturing bowl-shaped molecule will be published in the August issue of Inorganic Chemistry.