Rocks could save the world (Yes, rocks) - Elise Cutts
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Date: 2025-03-30
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Comments and reviews: 20
ted_ed
Dear TED-Ed Team,
I hope this message finds you well. First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest admiration for the incredible work that TED-Ed has been doing. Your educational content has been a tremendous source of inspiration and knowledge for people across the world, including myself. The way TED-Ed simplifies complex ideas and makes learning engaging is truly remarkable. I deeply appreciate the impact that TED-Ed has had on education and intellectual growth, and I sincerely believe that making these valuable lessons accessible to a wider audience can bring even greater benefits. In this regard, I would like to respectfully request permission to translate TED-Ed videos into my native language and share them online. My goal is to ensure that non-English speakers can also benefit from the insightful content TED-Ed provides. I completely understand and respect TED-Ed’s intellectual property rights and policies. If there are specific guidelines or conditions that must be followed in this process, I would be more than happy to adhere to them. Please let me know if this request is feasible and how best to proceed. Thank you for your time and consideration. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, to TED-Ed’s mission of spreading knowledge and ideas. I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
Htet Myat Naing
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Dear TED-Ed Team,
I hope this message finds you well. First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest admiration for the incredible work that TED-Ed has been doing. Your educational content has been a tremendous source of inspiration and knowledge for people across the world, including myself. The way TED-Ed simplifies complex ideas and makes learning engaging is truly remarkable. I deeply appreciate the impact that TED-Ed has had on education and intellectual growth, and I sincerely believe that making these valuable lessons accessible to a wider audience can bring even greater benefits. In this regard, I would like to respectfully request permission to translate TED-Ed videos into my native language and share them online. My goal is to ensure that non-English speakers can also benefit from the insightful content TED-Ed provides. I completely understand and respect TED-Ed’s intellectual property rights and policies. If there are specific guidelines or conditions that must be followed in this process, I would be more than happy to adhere to them. Please let me know if this request is feasible and how best to proceed. Thank you for your time and consideration. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, to TED-Ed’s mission of spreading knowledge and ideas. I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
Htet Myat Naing
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Axelgear2006
I am wholeheartedly behind artificial rock weathering (I am actually looking for funding for research into it with bacteria, but there's a big problem behind it that isn't mentioned here: Speed. While this video focuses on farmland dispersal, extant ongoing efforts focus on dispersing finely-ground rock along beaches to allow for seawater to assist in dissolving the rock (especially relevant given shifting ocean acidity. A major paper a year or so ago now, though, showed that to dissolve at an appreciable timescale, these rocks need to be ground to extreme fineness; exponentially increasing not just cost but energy requirements. Moreover, you run the risk that, if you opt for slower methods, you lock in a certain amount of CO2 capture for a century or more, which could lead us into an ironic and paradoxical situation of running climate change in the opposite direction towards global cooling.
As the video says, this is not reason enough to abandon exploring and investing in research into enhanced rock weathering. But to accelerate this kind of thing, we will need something that allows us to more rapidly dissolve rocks, either in larger particles or hopefully without need for grinding the rock at all. I believe bacteria provide us the best avenue here, but it's not the only path to be pursued.
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I am wholeheartedly behind artificial rock weathering (I am actually looking for funding for research into it with bacteria, but there's a big problem behind it that isn't mentioned here: Speed. While this video focuses on farmland dispersal, extant ongoing efforts focus on dispersing finely-ground rock along beaches to allow for seawater to assist in dissolving the rock (especially relevant given shifting ocean acidity. A major paper a year or so ago now, though, showed that to dissolve at an appreciable timescale, these rocks need to be ground to extreme fineness; exponentially increasing not just cost but energy requirements. Moreover, you run the risk that, if you opt for slower methods, you lock in a certain amount of CO2 capture for a century or more, which could lead us into an ironic and paradoxical situation of running climate change in the opposite direction towards global cooling.
As the video says, this is not reason enough to abandon exploring and investing in research into enhanced rock weathering. But to accelerate this kind of thing, we will need something that allows us to more rapidly dissolve rocks, either in larger particles or hopefully without need for grinding the rock at all. I believe bacteria provide us the best avenue here, but it's not the only path to be pursued.
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b_uppy
This could also kill us! It's s is really arrogant to think this is the best way to manage earth. Lots of other things that are low negative impact, high posituve impact. Like changing to regeneratibe farm8ng instead of conventional methods. Go to your store manager and let themknow what you want. Pastured animals on diverse pasture is best over all other forms of livestock management. Some animals like poultry may need some grain but much of their calories could come from foraging on fresh pasture.
We want to avoid animals from overgrazed pasture, CAFOs or other harmful practices.
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This could also kill us! It's s is really arrogant to think this is the best way to manage earth. Lots of other things that are low negative impact, high posituve impact. Like changing to regeneratibe farm8ng instead of conventional methods. Go to your store manager and let themknow what you want. Pastured animals on diverse pasture is best over all other forms of livestock management. Some animals like poultry may need some grain but much of their calories could come from foraging on fresh pasture.
We want to avoid animals from overgrazed pasture, CAFOs or other harmful practices.
reply
iBearD14
I mean, near an ocean it seems a good idea, but in lands The carbon isn't stored like in the ocean. It is used by vegetals and then release when it dies. Or if we eat them, a comparison o the carbon emission of this technic on land vs the current way to fertilize crop should be shown.
Because if this solution is mainly used to fertilize lands, it wont change the problem as during a period yes, t will increase the Co2 absorption by plants but when it dies, the microorganism will release the carbon into the atmosphere. I don't think this land solution is a good idea to be honnest
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I mean, near an ocean it seems a good idea, but in lands The carbon isn't stored like in the ocean. It is used by vegetals and then release when it dies. Or if we eat them, a comparison o the carbon emission of this technic on land vs the current way to fertilize crop should be shown.
Because if this solution is mainly used to fertilize lands, it wont change the problem as during a period yes, t will increase the Co2 absorption by plants but when it dies, the microorganism will release the carbon into the atmosphere. I don't think this land solution is a good idea to be honnest
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frankmueller25
Our planet, without human intervention, is destined to run our of CO2. The media driven fears (such as this one pushes) that CO2 will cause climate changes that we are unable to adjust to, are likely to kill this planet much faster. CO2 is vital for plant growth, and due to the inadvertent result to improve our lives, we have also reset our planet to an earlier more vital time in its past. The warming effect that CO2 has, at just 1/25 of 1% concentration, is minor compared to the effect water vapor, from a planet whose surface is more than 70% covered by water, has.
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Our planet, without human intervention, is destined to run our of CO2. The media driven fears (such as this one pushes) that CO2 will cause climate changes that we are unable to adjust to, are likely to kill this planet much faster. CO2 is vital for plant growth, and due to the inadvertent result to improve our lives, we have also reset our planet to an earlier more vital time in its past. The warming effect that CO2 has, at just 1/25 of 1% concentration, is minor compared to the effect water vapor, from a planet whose surface is more than 70% covered by water, has.
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zodiacfml
crazy logistics and cost of this solution. sadly, it is already proven that wind and solar are cheap enough vs fossil fuels that these two are used in the production of fossil fuels! Propaganda or lack of knowledge of the public does not accelerate renewable energy fast enough. Only China has the sense of urgency in renewables, but then, they use so much energy to make products that their fossil fuel use also increase with renewables.
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crazy logistics and cost of this solution. sadly, it is already proven that wind and solar are cheap enough vs fossil fuels that these two are used in the production of fossil fuels! Propaganda or lack of knowledge of the public does not accelerate renewable energy fast enough. Only China has the sense of urgency in renewables, but then, they use so much energy to make products that their fossil fuel use also increase with renewables.
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connecticutaggie
Interesting. Could you use volcanic ash to do the same thing The 1980 Mount St. Helens in WA ejected approximately 540 million tons of ash, covering an area of over 22, 000 square miles. Much of that ash is still there. Also, the eruption spread ash over a wide area - including farmlands. Do we have CO2 measurement data from that time or could we look at ocean sediment from that period to test the theories being proposed
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Interesting. Could you use volcanic ash to do the same thing The 1980 Mount St. Helens in WA ejected approximately 540 million tons of ash, covering an area of over 22, 000 square miles. Much of that ash is still there. Also, the eruption spread ash over a wide area - including farmlands. Do we have CO2 measurement data from that time or could we look at ocean sediment from that period to test the theories being proposed
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Liv-op2fi
feel really weird that they never said why we have a problem to be solve. like hello cars, planes, fcking spaces rocket from bilioners, the fact that the president of USA is steping back in all the decisions about saving our planet, o but lets crush some rocks and tell them, the people that is up to them to save the planet from this garbege of rich and irresponsable americans
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feel really weird that they never said why we have a problem to be solve. like hello cars, planes, fcking spaces rocket from bilioners, the fact that the president of USA is steping back in all the decisions about saving our planet, o but lets crush some rocks and tell them, the people that is up to them to save the planet from this garbege of rich and irresponsable americans
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No1YewKnow
How to explain a solution that is not only unfeasible in size and scope to make a meaningful difference, where the cons could be catastrophically be worse than the actual problem, and would probably result in world wars due to having to FORCE entire countries who disagree with this idiotic grand scheme into implementing it, in a 5 minute video.
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How to explain a solution that is not only unfeasible in size and scope to make a meaningful difference, where the cons could be catastrophically be worse than the actual problem, and would probably result in world wars due to having to FORCE entire countries who disagree with this idiotic grand scheme into implementing it, in a 5 minute video.
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ronkirk5099
We already have a huge problem with toxic heavy metals being exposed to weathering on the surface and polluting ground and surface water with the various global mining operations. How would this be any different Excess C02 in the atmosphere is bad, but polluting already scarce (in many places) water resources to reduce it is worse.
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We already have a huge problem with toxic heavy metals being exposed to weathering on the surface and polluting ground and surface water with the various global mining operations. How would this be any different Excess C02 in the atmosphere is bad, but polluting already scarce (in many places) water resources to reduce it is worse.
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tHebUm18
Feel like all geoengineering is fraught vs focusing energy on what we know will help: expediting the transition to clean/renewable energy sources (wind/solar/batteries/EVs/heat pumps/etc, but this solution sure seems better than people wanting to filter the 100's parts per million CO2 atmosphere with arrays of fans.
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Feel like all geoengineering is fraught vs focusing energy on what we know will help: expediting the transition to clean/renewable energy sources (wind/solar/batteries/EVs/heat pumps/etc, but this solution sure seems better than people wanting to filter the 100's parts per million CO2 atmosphere with arrays of fans.
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antokarman2064
Does this enhanced rock weathering process needs significant amount of marine animal What would happen if there's not enough animals or other sealife to process the bicarbonate that go into the sea Will it increase the sea ph level Sorry if i sound too critical, but i'm just curious about this process
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Does this enhanced rock weathering process needs significant amount of marine animal What would happen if there's not enough animals or other sealife to process the bicarbonate that go into the sea Will it increase the sea ph level Sorry if i sound too critical, but i'm just curious about this process
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flimksi
Billionares who sponsor these video would do anything to stop the catastrophic effects climate change - As long as it doesn't equal targeting the actual cause:
Fossil fuels which produce the electricity required for running their billion-dollar silicon valley tech empires.
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Billionares who sponsor these video would do anything to stop the catastrophic effects climate change - As long as it doesn't equal targeting the actual cause:
Fossil fuels which produce the electricity required for running their billion-dollar silicon valley tech empires.
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germanjimenez5336
We just completed a graduation project about this topic. Cost is one of the biggest barriers we have to make this happen at large scales, but we see opportunities on making this more affordable in the future. Thanks to Ted-Ed for making this subject mainstream!
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We just completed a graduation project about this topic. Cost is one of the biggest barriers we have to make this happen at large scales, but we see opportunities on making this more affordable in the future. Thanks to Ted-Ed for making this subject mainstream!
reply
punkdigerati
There's already work on this, but a similar approach is to change our concrete from a carbon producer (from it's manufacturing) to a carbon sink, by using captured carbon to produce it. We use an enormous amount of concrete, and it could sequester a lot of CO2.
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There's already work on this, but a similar approach is to change our concrete from a carbon producer (from it's manufacturing) to a carbon sink, by using captured carbon to produce it. We use an enormous amount of concrete, and it could sequester a lot of CO2.
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JoeJeller
I always look up your videos for update! Our government has no idea how people are suffering these days. I feel for people with disabilities not getting the help they deserve. Thank you Mrs Carol, imagine investing $12k and receiving $85k
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I always look up your videos for update! Our government has no idea how people are suffering these days. I feel for people with disabilities not getting the help they deserve. Thank you Mrs Carol, imagine investing $12k and receiving $85k
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gabrielgeorge5900
I feel like humans should cut back on carbon output before blowing up a volcano
(tbf I'm not geothermal-siesmologist or whatever, but I'd be concerned that it would accelerate climatic change or collapse)
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I feel like humans should cut back on carbon output before blowing up a volcano
(tbf I'm not geothermal-siesmologist or whatever, but I'd be concerned that it would accelerate climatic change or collapse)
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Royce16727
IF this has potential to work, I hope that it will be used in conjunction with a global program designed to reduce our consumption of natural resources, rather than just a strategy to sustain our current lifestyle.
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IF this has potential to work, I hope that it will be used in conjunction with a global program designed to reduce our consumption of natural resources, rather than just a strategy to sustain our current lifestyle.
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miguelramos3820
10 tons of rock per hectare of agricultoral land!
Do you have any idea how much that is Thats basicaly covering the entire field with a few milimeters of crushed rock. How would you grow anything
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10 tons of rock per hectare of agricultoral land!
Do you have any idea how much that is Thats basicaly covering the entire field with a few milimeters of crushed rock. How would you grow anything
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amaartiflex1439
what do we do once we mannage to store all the Carbon D in the oceans let it kill their ecosystemys which will lead to more Carbon D in ours once again: ) im not sure but this sounds right
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what do we do once we mannage to store all the Carbon D in the oceans let it kill their ecosystemys which will lead to more Carbon D in ours once again: ) im not sure but this sounds right
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