Dr Alexander Forse says capturing carbon dioxide is a "last resort" for tackling global warming
          Scientists have devised a low-cost, energy-efficient method of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air, new research suggests. The team at the University of Cambridge used a method similar to charging a battery to charge activated charcoal, which is often used in household water filters to remove contaminants. The capture and storage of CO2 has been used as a way of reducing emissions that contribute to global warming. Dr Alexander Forse, who led the study, said capturing from the atmosphere was a "last resort", but added: "Given the scale of the climate emergency, it's something we need to investigate."But the charged charcoal sponges only required heating to 90 to100C, temperatures that could be achieved using renewable electricity."But greenhouse gas removal is also thought to be necessary to achieve net zero emissions and limit the worst effects of climate change. Dr Forse said this method was a "kind of crazy idea" the team came up with during Covid-19 lockdowns.