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4 days ago
- Science
- First Post
How a researcher plans to save the planet by detonating a nuke on the ocean floor
A young Microsoft engineer has proposed a radical idea to combat climate change — detonating an 81-gigatonne nuclear bomb beneath the ocean floor to pulverise basalt and sequester carbon dioxide. Drawing inspiration from both past nuclear experiments and modern climate science, this untested geoengineering concept aims to contain radiation while offsetting decades of carbon emissions read more The paper presents a bold proposal to employ a buried nuclear explosion in a remote basaltic seabed for pulverising basalt, thereby accelerating carbon sequestration. Representational Image/AI-generated via Firstpost An out-of-the-box idea to counter climate change has surfaced from an unlikely source — Andy Haverly, a 25-year-old software engineer with no formal background in climate or nuclear science. Published in January earlier this year on the open-access platform arXiv, Haverly's paper puts forward an extreme method: burying and detonating a nuclear device deep beneath the seafloor to trigger a massive carbon capture process. 'By precisely locating the explosion beneath the seabed, we aim to confine debris, radiation, and energy while ensuring rapid rock weathering at a scale substantial enough to make a meaningful dent in atmospheric carbon levels,' the study states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The method revolves around using the raw power of a nuclear detonation to pulverise basalt rock — abundant on the ocean floor — thereby accelerating a natural process known as Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which binds carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into solid minerals. What is the proposal? At the heart of the proposal lies the unprecedented yield of the nuclear device Haverly envisions. The study calls for a blast of 81 gigatonnes, which is more than 1,600 times the explosive force of the 50-megaton Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear bomb ever detonated, tested by the Soviet Union in 1961. The target for this operation is the Kerguelen Plateau, a remote basalt-rich region in the Southern Ocean. According to the study, the nuclear device would need to be buried 3 to 5 kilometres into the basaltic seabed, which itself lies 6 to 8 kilometers beneath the ocean surface. This depth, combined with water pressure of up to 800 atmospheres, would act as a natural buffer, containing the explosive force and localising its effects. 'By burying the nuclear device kilometers underground under kilometers of water, we can be certain that the explosion will first pulverise the rock then be contained by the water,' the paper claims. The method's core aim is to accelerate basalt's chemical interaction with CO₂, a process that already occurs in nature over geological time scales. Haverly proposes artificially speeding it up on an enormous scale. What will the plan require? Haverly's calculations are based on several key assumptions drawn from existing scientific literature. The model assumes that humanity emits approximately 36 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually and aims to sequester 30 years' worth of these emissions — around 1.08 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To accomplish this, the paper estimates that 3.86 trillion tonnes of basalt would need to be pulverised. This figure is derived using ERW models, which suggest that one ton of basalt can sequester 0.28 tonnes of CO₂. Pulverising this much basalt would require an estimated 3.05 × 10²⁰ joules of energy — equivalent to an 81-gigatonne nuclear explosion. The detonation's efficiency is assumed to be 90 per cent in pulverising basalt, based on past modelling of nuclear impacts on geological material. Is there previous research on this? The proposal echoes mid-20th-century nuclear research. Between 1957 and 1977, the United States pursued Project Plowshare, a programme that tested the application of nuclear explosions for civil engineering. One of the most famous events, the 1962 'Sedan' test, created a crater more than 300 metres wide and spread radioactive fallout across several states. Project Sedan, a Plowshare Program test, left quite the mark! 😲 Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) created The Plowshare Program, in June 1957, to explore the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Project Sedan became the 2nd and largest Plowshare experiment. — Atomic Museum (@AtomicMuseum) January 29, 2024 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Project Plowshare intended to create artificial harbours, canals and mine pits. Despite its ambition, it was eventually discontinued due to public opposition, environmental consequences and limited success. Haverly's plan draws conceptually from these tests but differs in its specific aim — carbon capture through rock pulverisation, rather than excavation. What about safety concerns? Although the proposed detonation would dwarf previous nuclear tests, the study insists that the risk to human life and global ecosystems is manageable — if not minimal. The paper states: 'Few or no loss of life due to the immediate effects of radiation.' It also includes a disclaimer about long-term consequences, admitting the project 'will impact people and cause losses.' Nonetheless, Haverly downplays the scale of fallout, stating, 'this increase in radiation would be, according to Haverly, 'just a drop in the ocean.'' He adds: 'Each year we emit more radiation from coal-fired power plants and have already detonated over 2,000 nuclear devices.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To mitigate radiological impact, the paper recommends using a standard fission-fusion hydrogen bomb, optimised to reduce persistent radioactive contamination. The surrounding basalt is expected to trap and contain most of the emitted radiation locally. Even so, the detonation would render a section of the seabed 'uninhabitable for decades', according to the study. The total affected area would be restricted to a few dozen square kilometres, minimising ecosystem destruction compared to the widespread environmental disruption projected from unchecked climate change. Is it worth the risk in the long term? The proposal positions this destruction as a tolerable trade-off when compared to the catastrophic effects of a warming planet. The report argues that climate change will pose a far more extensive and persistent threat to global ecosystems by the year 2100. Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, ocean acidification and extreme weather events are already contributing to biodiversity loss and food insecurity. In this context, the local environmental cost of the explosion, the study suggests, is justified by the potential for large-scale carbon sequestration. The idea has emerged as the world increasingly entertains controversial geoengineering solutions. The United Kingdom's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has backed an experimental programme worth £50 million to explore sunlight-dimming methods, including stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These strategies aim to temporarily cool the planet by reflecting sunlight or enhancing the reflectivity of oceanic clouds. How much will the plan cost? Beyond environmental trade-offs, Haverly's proposal touts its cost-effectiveness. According to the study, the nuclear device would cost approximately $10 billion, while climate change-related damage is projected to exceed $100 trillion by the year 2100, based on estimates by IPCC and economists like Nicholas Stern. 'This is a 10,000x return on investment,' the paper argues. The author suggests that even though the proposal is 'radical,' it offers immense economic value, particularly if executed in time to prevent worst-case climate scenarios. Haverly also sets a tight timeline, proposing that the explosion could be deployed within a decade, pending testing, design and political approval. Can this method succeed? The study lays out several conditional assumptions necessary for the success of this idea: That the detonation will not trigger a global catastrophe. That the device is too large for military use and would not escalate global tensions. That current climate trajectories continue without major decarbonisation breakthroughs. That the explosion can sequester 30 years of CO₂ emissions. Haverly maintains that this proposal must be evaluated seriously, not as an act of desperation, but as a calculated intervention. 'This is not to be taken lightly,' he warns in the study, acknowledging both its potential and its dangers. The conclusion summarises the proposition as a scientifically structured yet radical climate mitigation strategy. 'By specifying the necessary parameters, we demonstrate the potential for effective carbon sequestration while minimising adverse side effects,' the paper states. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round to scale Carbon Removal (CDR) in the Global South
Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round $12 million seed will be the largest funding round for climate tech in India Funding round led by Lachy Groom with participation from existing investors To accelerate investments in CDR, Earth Sciences R&D and advanced hardware San Francisco and Bangalore, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- : Alt Carbon, a deep-tech science & data company, announced a $12 million seed funding round to build the agricultural infrastructure for climate action. The investment will help accelerate Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in the Global South and expand Earth Sciences R&D, advance hardware innovations, and scale-up operations for durable climate action in India. The round was led by Lachy Groom, with participation from existing investors. This marks the largest seed round for climate tech in India, underscoring the novelty of the technology, growing demand for removal-based carbon credits, and the burgeoning opportunity for India to become the world's frontier for climate action. 'Alt Carbon is tackling a once-in-a-generation challenge. The personal journey of the founders, their technical approach, and ambitious vision will help us remove CO₂ from the atmosphere at gigaton scale — all while adapting agricultural land for climate impact. In just 18 months, the team has built a world-class lab, created proprietary models, and laid the foundation for a new class of carbon removal and agricultural infrastructure. This is a category-defining deep-tech company that will reshape how the world thinks about climate action,' said Lachy Groom, Investor and Co-founder of Physical Intelligence. Alt Carbon uses a novel carbon removal method called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which involves sourcing waste basalt rock dust from mines and spreading it across agricultural fields. This volcanic rock not only improves soil health and crop yields but also reacts naturally with rainwater to remove carbon dioxide. When CO₂ in rainwater interacts with the basalt dust, a chemical reaction converts it into stable bicarbonate ions that are stored in the soil. Over time, these ions travel through river networks to the ocean, where they eventually reside as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) for over 10,000 years. Alt Carbon's flagship initiative, The Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration. With an ambitious goal to remove carbon dioxide at scale, the DRP aims to not just remove CO₂ but also restore livelihoods, revive degraded soils and ecosystems, and preserve India's most valued export: Darjeeling's tea. The project represents a new model for climate action — one that's rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambition and audacious bets. 'The climate crisis demands bold bets on science innovation, rethinking infrastructure, and deploying capital. Enhanced Rock Weathering is one of the most promising, permanent carbon removal pathways we have, and yet it's vastly underbuilt. What sets us apart is our obsession with scientific depth: we're building advanced labs and engineering the scientific backbone of a new era of climate action grounded in the Global South. Extraordinary crises require outsized ambition, and we now have the capital to kickstart a climate revolution and have a shot at gigaton-scale carbon removal,' said Co-founder & CEO Shrey Agarwal, Alt Carbon. In just the last two months, Alt Carbon signed two landmark agreements that signal a new chapter in climate collaboration between Japan and India. A strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation marked a first of its kind framework for scaling Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) — a strong vote of confidence in both the science and Alt Carbon's execution. This was followed by a historic offtake agreement with MOL Group to purchase 10,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits — the world's first direct CDR offtake by a shipping company for ERW, and the first such deal between a Japanese and Indian company. Together, these partnerships not only validate ERW as a credible, scalable climate solution, but also mark the emergence of a robust Japan–India business corridor rooted in science-led, cross-border climate action. Alt Carbon has also received early catalytic support from ACT, a leading non-profit philanthropy platform, and participation from existing investors and leading angels, including Shastra VC, Jason Zhao (Co Founder, PIP Labs), Awais Ahmed (Co Founder, Pixxel Space), Amarendra Singh (Co Founder, DeHaat), among others. Nine months ago, Alt Carbon made history as the first India-headquartered company to be selected by Frontier, a $1 billion Advance Market Commitment backed by Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and McKinsey — to scale permanent carbon removal. Alt Carbon also became the first ERW company globally to receive an offtake agreement from the South Pole & Mitsubishi-led NextGen buyer's coalition. Alt Carbon also announced the appointment of Yashovardhan Bhagat (former co-founder of ed-tech platform Seekho) as Chief Operating Officer to scale its carbon removal operations across India, Adithya Venkatesan (former brand head at Gojek, Meesho and Last9) to lead the in-house Climate Studio, and Dr. Sourav Ganguly (PhD, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) to lead the science & modelling team. 'India needs $1 trillion of climate finance by 2030 alone to adapt our soil, rivers, and cities to climate impact. Globally, we need to remove 10 billion tons of CO₂ every year by 2050. We're nowhere close to either of these targets. Our goal is to make India a hub for carbon removal. We plan to remove CO₂ at scale from the Global South, for the planet,' said Co-founder & President, Sparsh Agarwal. He added, 'We thank the partners who have joined us in this ambitious, whirlwind journey, to revive Darjeeling, remove CO₂ and undo the clock for this planet.' - Notes to the editorFor further information please contact the Alt Carbon press office: Adithya Venkatesan on adithya@ Media images About Alt CarbonAlt Carbon is a deeptech science and data company, building agri infrastructure for climate action. We aim to make South Asia a hub for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) through technology pathways like Enhanced Rock Weathering. We work with farmers and scientists in the Global South, to turn underutilized land into carbon sinks. Our flagship initiative, the Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration — by reviving degraded soils, restoring livelihoods, and rebuilding ecosystems. We're rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambitious people and audacious bets. Our mission is to remove 5 million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030. For more information please visit or follow us via LinkedIn or X About Lachy GroomLachy Groom has invested in over 200 companies including Anduril, OpenAI, Ramp, Notion, Figma, and Zepto. Lachy was previously an early employee at Stripe where he helped scale the company to over 2,500 employees. During his time there he led several teams, including Core Payments, Financial Partnerships, Stripe's expansion into the Asia Pacific, and Stripe Issuing. Lachy is also one of the six co-founders of Physical Intelligence. About ACTACT Capital Foundation is an Indian venture philanthropy platform that believes that an entrepreneurial mindset, technology and innovation and collective action have the power to create meaningful impact at scale. Driven by a bias for action, ACT funds and supports tech-first innovations that can address India's most critical social need gaps at scale through capital, connections and collectives. "ACT's belief in backing tech-first innovations has helped lay the groundwork for Alt Carbon's first field deployments and validate the efficacy of ERW to remove carbon at scale. Philanthropic capital reflects a shared commitment to help the country meet its decarbonisation goals by accelerating climate solutions that are rooted in local realities and scalable across the Global South," said Alankrita Khera, Director, ACT. Attachment Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round CONTACT: Adithya Venkatesan — adithya@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round to scale Carbon Removal (CDR) in the Global South
Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round $12 million seed will be the largest funding round for climate tech in India Funding round led by Lachy Groom with participation from existing investors To accelerate investments in CDR, Earth Sciences R&D and advanced hardware San Francisco and Bangalore, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- : Alt Carbon, a deep-tech science & data company, announced a $12 million seed funding round to build the agricultural infrastructure for climate action. The investment will help accelerate Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in the Global South and expand Earth Sciences R&D, advance hardware innovations, and scale-up operations for durable climate action in India. The round was led by Lachy Groom, with participation from existing investors. This marks the largest seed round for climate tech in India, underscoring the novelty of the technology, growing demand for removal-based carbon credits, and the burgeoning opportunity for India to become the world's frontier for climate action. 'Alt Carbon is tackling a once-in-a-generation challenge. The personal journey of the founders, their technical approach, and ambitious vision will help us remove CO₂ from the atmosphere at gigaton scale — all while adapting agricultural land for climate impact. In just 18 months, the team has built a world-class lab, created proprietary models, and laid the foundation for a new class of carbon removal and agricultural infrastructure. This is a category-defining deep-tech company that will reshape how the world thinks about climate action,' said Lachy Groom, Investor and Co-founder of Physical Intelligence. Alt Carbon uses a novel carbon removal method called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which involves sourcing waste basalt rock dust from mines and spreading it across agricultural fields. This volcanic rock not only improves soil health and crop yields but also reacts naturally with rainwater to remove carbon dioxide. When CO₂ in rainwater interacts with the basalt dust, a chemical reaction converts it into stable bicarbonate ions that are stored in the soil. Over time, these ions travel through river networks to the ocean, where they eventually reside as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) for over 10,000 years. Alt Carbon's flagship initiative, The Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration. With an ambitious goal to remove carbon dioxide at scale, the DRP aims to not just remove CO₂ but also restore livelihoods, revive degraded soils and ecosystems, and preserve India's most valued export: Darjeeling's tea. The project represents a new model for climate action — one that's rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambition and audacious bets. 'The climate crisis demands bold bets on science innovation, rethinking infrastructure, and deploying capital. Enhanced Rock Weathering is one of the most promising, permanent carbon removal pathways we have, and yet it's vastly underbuilt. What sets us apart is our obsession with scientific depth: we're building advanced labs and engineering the scientific backbone of a new era of climate action grounded in the Global South. Extraordinary crises require outsized ambition, and we now have the capital to kickstart a climate revolution and have a shot at gigaton-scale carbon removal,' said Co-founder & CEO Shrey Agarwal, Alt Carbon. In just the last two months, Alt Carbon signed two landmark agreements that signal a new chapter in climate collaboration between Japan and India. A strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation marked a first of its kind framework for scaling Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) — a strong vote of confidence in both the science and Alt Carbon's execution. This was followed by a historic offtake agreement with MOL Group to purchase 10,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits — the world's first direct CDR offtake by a shipping company for ERW, and the first such deal between a Japanese and Indian company. Together, these partnerships not only validate ERW as a credible, scalable climate solution, but also mark the emergence of a robust Japan–India business corridor rooted in science-led, cross-border climate action. Alt Carbon has also received early catalytic support from ACT, a leading non-profit philanthropy platform, and participation from existing investors and leading angels, including Shastra VC, Jason Zhao (Co Founder, PIP Labs), Awais Ahmed (Co Founder, Pixxel Space), Amarendra Singh (Co Founder, DeHaat), among others. Nine months ago, Alt Carbon made history as the first India-headquartered company to be selected by Frontier, a $1 billion Advance Market Commitment backed by Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and McKinsey — to scale permanent carbon removal. Alt Carbon also became the first ERW company globally to receive an offtake agreement from the South Pole & Mitsubishi-led NextGen buyer's coalition. Alt Carbon also announced the appointment of Yashovardhan Bhagat (former co-founder of ed-tech platform Seekho) as Chief Operating Officer to scale its carbon removal operations across India, Adithya Venkatesan (former brand head at Gojek, Meesho and Last9) to lead the in-house Climate Studio, and Dr. Sourav Ganguly (PhD, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) to lead the science & modelling team. 'India needs $1 trillion of climate finance by 2030 alone to adapt our soil, rivers, and cities to climate impact. Globally, we need to remove 10 billion tons of CO₂ every year by 2050. We're nowhere close to either of these targets. Our goal is to make India a hub for carbon removal. We plan to remove CO₂ at scale from the Global South, for the planet,' said Co-founder & President, Sparsh Agarwal. He added, 'We thank the partners who have joined us in this ambitious, whirlwind journey, to revive Darjeeling, remove CO₂ and undo the clock for this planet.' - Notes to the editorFor further information please contact the Alt Carbon press office: Adithya Venkatesan on adithya@ Media images About Alt CarbonAlt Carbon is a deeptech science and data company, building agri infrastructure for climate action. We aim to make South Asia a hub for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) through technology pathways like Enhanced Rock Weathering. We work with farmers and scientists in the Global South, to turn underutilized land into carbon sinks. Our flagship initiative, the Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration — by reviving degraded soils, restoring livelihoods, and rebuilding ecosystems. We're rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambitious people and audacious bets. Our mission is to remove 5 million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030. For more information please visit or follow us via LinkedIn or X About Lachy GroomLachy Groom has invested in over 200 companies including Anduril, OpenAI, Ramp, Notion, Figma, and Zepto. Lachy was previously an early employee at Stripe where he helped scale the company to over 2,500 employees. During his time there he led several teams, including Core Payments, Financial Partnerships, Stripe's expansion into the Asia Pacific, and Stripe Issuing. Lachy is also one of the six co-founders of Physical Intelligence. About ACTACT Capital Foundation is an Indian venture philanthropy platform that believes that an entrepreneurial mindset, technology and innovation and collective action have the power to create meaningful impact at scale. Driven by a bias for action, ACT funds and supports tech-first innovations that can address India's most critical social need gaps at scale through capital, connections and collectives. "ACT's belief in backing tech-first innovations has helped lay the groundwork for Alt Carbon's first field deployments and validate the efficacy of ERW to remove carbon at scale. Philanthropic capital reflects a shared commitment to help the country meet its decarbonisation goals by accelerating climate solutions that are rooted in local realities and scalable across the Global South," said Alankrita Khera, Director, ACT. Attachment Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round CONTACT: Adithya Venkatesan — adithya@
