Volcanic microbe eats CO2 ‘astonishingly quickly’, say scientists

The microbe was discovered in volcanic seeps near the Italian island of Vulcano. Photograph: Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images

A microbe discovered in a volcanic hot spring gobbles up carbon dioxide “astonishingly quickly”, according to the scientists who found it.

The researchers hope to utilise microbes that have naturally evolved to absorb CO2 as an efficient way of removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Ending the burning of fossil fuels is critical in ending the climate crisis, but most scientists agree CO2 will also need to be sucked from the air to limit future damage.