The world is betting heavily on carbon capture — a term that refers to various techniques to stop carbon pollution from being released during industrial processes, or removing existing carbon from the atmosphere, to then lock it up permanently. The practice is not free of controversy, with some arguing that carbon capture is expensive, unproven and can serve as a distraction from actually reducing carbon emissions. But it is a fast-growing reality: there are at least 628 carbon capture and storage projects in the pipeline around the world, with a 60% year-on-year increase, according to the latest report from the Global CCS Institute. Perhaps the most ambitious — and the most expensive — type of carbon capture involves removing carbon dioxide directly from the air. Some scientists believe that a better option would be to capture carbon from seawater rather than air, because the ocean is the planet's largest carbon sink, absorbing 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions. In the UK, where the government in 2023 announced up to £20 billion ($26.7 billion) in funding to support carbon capture, one such project has taken shape near the English Channel. Called SeaCURE, it aims to find out if sea carbon capture actually works, and if it can be competitive with its air counterpart. Tap the link in our bio to read more. 📸: Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Paul Halloran and SeaCURE Team