Invasive sargassum seaweed helpfully absorbs CO2, but also washes ashore in huge quantities from the Gulf of Mexico to Florida, emitting a foul-smelling gas and hurting ecosystems and tourism economies. The AlgaRay robot glides through the sea, scooping up floating mats of the plant. It then dives 200 m, where pressure and gravity sink it to the seafloor, taking the CO2 it has absorbed with it. Seaweed Generation has a 49-year license for trials in Antigua and Barbuda while it develops an autonomous version of the bot.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Why Cell Phone Reception Is Getting Worse
- The Dirty Secrets of Alternative Plastics
- Israeli Family Celebrates Release of Hostage Grandmother
- We Should Get Paid for Our Online Data: Column
- The COP28 Outcomes Business Leaders Are Watching For
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023
- The Top 100 Photos of 2023
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time