Scientists invent photosynthetic 'living' material that sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere

Two versions of a new photosynthetic material. On the left we see a pineapple-shaped sample and on the right a cubic sample.

Scientists in Switzerland have created a new "living" material that contains blue-green algae and could one day be used in buildings to fight climate change, they say.

Thanks to the blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, the new material is photosynthetic. This means it can chemically convert carbon dioxide (CO₂), sunlight and water into oxygen and sugars, which promote growth.