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Can turning CO2 into recyclable plastics help humans win climate war?

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In a groundbreaking shift towards sustainability, industries worldwide are harnessing carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies to combat climate change.

From mattresses to clothing and beyond, innovative products are emerging due to repurposing carbon dioxide, offering a glimpse into a greener future.

As concerns about irreversible climate damage escalate, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores the urgency for action. With annual global CO2 emissions projected to soar, CCU emerges as a formidable strategy, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 billion metric tons by 2050.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities worldwide are already operational, trapping CO2 from smokestacks or ambient air. However, a paradigm shift occurs with carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), acknowledged by the IPCC in 2022. CCU transforms captured CO2 into products like cement, jet fuel, and plastics, offering a multifaceted approach to climate mitigation.

The plastics industry, a notorious contributor to carbon emissions, is witnessing a transformative wave. Instead of relying on fossil fuels, companies are incorporating captured CO2 into plastics production.

Lux Research estimates the CCU market, valued at nearly $2 billion in 2020, could skyrocket to $550 billion by 2040, with a particular focus on enhancing cement and jet fuel properties.

Chemists and researchers are exploring catalysts to streamline the conversion of CO2 into plastics. Commercial successes include mattresses, car interiors, building insulation, and sports flooring from CO2-based materials. Additionally, efforts to create carbon-negative polyester demonstrate the potential to combat plastic pollution.

Microbial interventions, such as harnessing acetogenic bacteria, exemplify nature-inspired solutions. Companies like LanzaTech are collaborating with steel plants to convert industrial emissions into ethanol, which is subsequently used in fabric production. This symbiotic relationship aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 80%.

While challenges persist, including regulatory hurdles and fossil fuel subsidies, the trajectory is clear. Visionaries envision a circular carbon economy where products are designed for longevity and recyclability.

Researchers emphasise the need for legislative support, corporate alignment, technological advancements, and shifts in human behaviour to realise this transformative vision.

In a world grappling with environmental crises, the dawn of recyclable plastics from CO2 heralds a new era in sustainable innovation, offering hope for a cleaner, circular future.

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Moon train operations are planned by NASA.

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The goal is to construct the first lunar train system, which will enable safe, independent, and effective cargo transportation on the moon, according to robotics specialist Ethan Schaler of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

He went on, “The day-to-day functioning of a sustainable lunar base in the 2030s will depend heavily on a robust, long-lasting robotic transport system.”

The Flexible Levitation on a Track, or FLOAT, is the name of the proposed lunar rail system. According to NASA, the establishment of a railway system on the moon is “critical to the daily operations.”

According to the space agency, the primary objective of FLOAT is to offer transportation services in regions of the moon where astronauts are engaged in activities. To do this, cargoes of lunar soil and other materials will need to be transported to various regions of the moon.

Each robot will be able to transport cargo of various sizes and shapes at a pace of roughly 1 mph (1.61 km/h), according to Dr. Schaler.

Notably, NASA also declared new initiatives last month to create and test new vehicle models intended for moon exploration.

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Business

Pakistan’s lunar mission ‘ICUBE-Q’ reaches the moon orbit.

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Pakistan’s lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) entered orbit around the moon on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s historic lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) launched from Hainan, China, on Friday aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft.

According to the IST, the satellite ICUBE-Q was planned and developed in partnership with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO.

The ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two optical cameras to image the lunar surface. ICUBE-Q has now been integrated into the Chang’e6 mission after successfully qualifying and testing it.

Chang’e6 is the sixth lunar exploration mission launched by China.

The launch event was streamed live on the IST website and social media platforms. Chang’6, China’s Lunar Mission, will land on the Moon’s far side to collect surface samples before returning to Earth for further research.

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Education

The establishment of IT labs in Islamabad’s educational establishments

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SIFC was established to improve the ease of doing business for potential investors through a “Whole of Government”Approach”—achieving optimal horizontal-vertical synergy and facilitation by the Pakistan Army—and to attract investments from friendly countries in selected sectors through an empowered organisation that serves as a “single-window” platform for facilitation.

The children will learn the newest skills in these state-of-the-art IT labs, expanding their employment prospects.

These IT laboratories will be constructed in sixteen degree colleges spread throughout various parts of Islamabad.

Students will take six-month courses in artificial intelligence (AI), game development, data science, and block chain in these IT labs.

Approximately 1,000 students will have access to courses in the first phase, which is being implemented in response to market demand.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission has worked with esteemed universities such as NUST, National Skills University, COMSATS, and NUML to produce these courses.

The second week of this month will mark the start of these classes. For these courses, about 3,600 students have signed up.

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