How do you convert CO2 into jet fuel?

FromOxford Sparks Big Questions

Start listening View podcast show

How do you convert CO2 into jet fuel?

FromOxford Sparks Big Questions

ratings:

Length:

14 minutes

Released:

May 3, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Increasing levels of CO2 in our atmosphere are a big cause for concern. So what if we could find a way to not only remove some CO2 from the air, but turn it into something useful too? That's exactly what Dr Tiancun Xiao and his team have been working on...and they've found a way to turn CO2 into jet fuel!

Released:

May 3, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

'Will my bacon sandwich kill me?', 'Is vaping better than smoking?', 'How do you become an astronaut?' - just some of the Big Questions we ask some of the brightest minds behind Oxford science. Join us in each podcast as we explore a different area of science.

Skip carousel

Why does Uranus smell like farts?: Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, has the poetic name of the Greek god of the heavens. In the English language, it is, unfortunately, the literal butt of every astronomy joke. And last year the new discovery about the seventh planet’s odour... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Why are athletes using ketones?: It’s considered one of the hardest athletic challenges. 21 day-long stages covering around 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles) - it’s the Tour De France. A Tour de France rider will burn enough calories during a six-hour mountain stage to fuel an... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
14 min listen
What does my family want to know about coronavirus?: Coronavirus has been hitting the headlines since late 2019, and is now at the forefront of many people’s minds. We have a lot of questions, and it can be difficult to find answers. In this episode of the Big Questions podcast, Emily is asking her... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
16 min listen
What's under Lapland?: We know it as the home of Father Christmas, but why is Lapland of interest to geologists? In this festive episode of the Big Questions podcast we ask Anna Bidgood from the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences "What's under Lapland?".... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
14 min listen
Why do diets fail?: It's a new year (and a new decade!) and many of us will be looking to turn over a new leaf when it comes to diet and lifestyle. But - as anyone who's tried one will know - diets are VERY difficult to stick to. In this episode of the Big Questions... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
16 min listen
What do our nerves sound like?: Our nerves don’t stop talking. They’re 24-7 communication systems for our bodies. But does all this cellular chitta-chatta actually make a noise? For 100’s of years, scientists have been trying to figure out how exactly our nervous system relays... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Can computers predict crime?: You can’t turn on the TV or read a newspaper article without a daily reporting of crime. As technology and computer algorithms advance we want to know if there will be a computer model that could know us better than ourselves. In this episode of the... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
14 min listen
Why does my phone battery suck?: Most people use their phones every single day for communicating with others, using the Internet, playing games via apps. There’s nothing worse than looking down at your phone and realising the battery is running out of juice—or worse yet, that... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
14 min listen
Should I be a vegan?: If you have been in a supermarket recently you will have noticed it, all of a sudden all of the shelves have become more vegan friendly. With a New Year upon us and resolutions being made – is it time to take the plunge and say good bye to meat and... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Did volcanoes help kill off the dinosaurs?: Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago. We should take a moment to realise how much history that is! Volcanoes are just one of Earth’s creations that have stood the test of time and on this Big Questions podcast we want to know: did volcanoes help... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Why should we cuddle?: Who doesn’t love a cuddle? Whether it is from a pet or a person they just make us feel good. But, would you believe wrapping your arms around someone else can actually improve your gut health? In this episode of the Oxford Sparks 'Big Questions'... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Should we trust scientists?: We’re living in extraordinary times, where graphs and statistics are splashed across newspaper front pages, and misinformation is rife. How do we know which sources of information are reliable? How do scientific researchers go from having an idea to... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
16 min listen
Can you hack an aeroplane?: 35 million flights will take off and land this year. Each flight is tracked on the ground by air traffic control and there’s technology on the plane. But what is stopping a hacker from sitting in front of their computer and disrupting the... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
12 min listen
Why do birds lay eggs?: Most new-born mammals and some reptiles emerge from their mothers through the usual channels. But baby birds are stuck cracking open eggshells – but why? In this week’s Oxford Sparks Big Questions podcast we are visiting Marie-Claire Koschowitz,... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
12 min listen
What did Hollywood get right and wrong in these movies?: King Kong, PI, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and Superman III. What do these 4 films have in common? SCIENCE! They caught attention of one film fan Edwin Davies. On this episode of the Big Questions podcast we are separating the fact and fiction... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
20 min listen
What happens in the field?: Field work. It sounds like a lot of fun! Scientists get to travel the world visiting exotic locations seeing and experiencing incredible things. But in reality they can find themselves outside the comforts of their lab with some interesting things... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
21 min listen
Who was Henrietta Leavitt?: Much of post 1920s astronomy rests on her shoulders. Without her, we wouldn’t have a three-dimensional sky. Leavitt’s Law allowed us to measure distances in other galaxies as early as 1912. But how many people have ever heard of Henrietta Leavitt?... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
16 min listen
How do you fight malaria in the back of a van?: Just one mosquito bite is enough to infect someone with malaria. Tackling this serious – sometimes fatal – subtropical disease is a key priority for the World Health Organisation; but how can we move forward in the fight against it? Specifically,... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
15 min listen
When did dogs become our best friends?: In this year's Valentine's episode, we're exploring one of the most special relationships around. That's right - the one between us and our dogs! We often hear pooches described as "(wo)man's best friend", but for how long has this been the case? Join... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
11 min listen
Where is my hoverboard?: According to the much-loved 'Back to the Future' franchise, we should all be zipping around on hoverboards by now. As we come to terms with our disappointment that they STILL haven't hit the shelves, Dr Clara Barker from Oxford University's Materials... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
How do you turn a plastic bag into fuel?: There are a lot of plastic bags out there. Every year we get through 1 trillion plastic bags worldwide. Quick math, that means we are using 1 million bags per minute. But wouldn’t it be nice if we could turn this plastic into something useful? Like... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Are bats superheroes or villains?: The Big Questions podcast is back with a new series, and we start with a special Halloween edition! Join University of Oxford evolutionary virologist Emilia Skirmuntt as we learn all about the weird and wonderful world of bats, and ask the question... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
12 min listen
Can a machine pick a perfect Christmas gift?: It is that time a year again where our relationships are tested to find that perfect Christmas gift! Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an algorithm that could do it for you? In this episode of the Big Questions podcast we ask the question: Can a... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
16 min listen
What's in the Indian Ocean?: Much less is known about the Indian Ocean than either the Atlantic or Pacific. It's also the least protected. What secrets lie beneath the waves? What new species wait to be discovered…? Dr Paris Stefanoudis tells us all about the Nekton project,... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Is a snack tax on the horizon?: Do you remember when the price of fizzy drinks in the UK went up slightly a few years ago? Soda fans, perhaps you remember all too clearly...! Well, this was because the UK government introduced a sugar tax (or the Soft Drinks Industrial Levy, to be... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
12 min listen
How do I win Fantasy Football?: Did you know that the winner of the 2019/2020 Fantasy Premier League, beating over 7 million other players, was Dr Joshua Bull - a researcher at Oxford's Mathematical Institute? How did he win? Turns out that 'mathematical thinking' and a strategic... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
12 min listen
Why is Oxford's Botanic Garden Making Gin?: Established in 1621, the Oxford Botanic Garden was the first botanic garden in the UK. It has been - and remains – an invaluable resource for education, scientific research, and conservation. But recently it’s added another feather to its cap,... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
How do you build a super sewer?: What do you do when a city outgrows its 150 year old sewer system? Build a super sewer of course! Join University of Oxford engineer Dr Brian Sheil as we go underground, and learn how his innovative sensors are revolutionising the Thames Tideway... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen
Are video games good for my mental health?: Most of us have probably heard of video games being described as "addictive", but is there evidence of this? Are they damaging to our mental health, or could they actually have a positive impact on our metal wellbeing? In this episode of the Big... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
11 min listen
Should I buy a real or a fake Christmas tree?: It's that time of year - the festive jumpers are going on, the lights are going up, and we're ready to decorate our Christmas trees. But when it comes to choosing your fir, what do you go for - real or fake? Perhaps you have a trusty old... by Oxford Sparks Big Questions
13 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Biotech Startups by Startup Hustle
46 min listen
Out of Thin Air: Clean Fuel for Heavy Transportation and Industry—David Keith—Carbon Engineering: Most of us are aware that we’re in the midst of an energy and environmental crisis, two problems for which a number of efforts are being deployed in an attempt to find a solution. For example, solar panels are commonplace, and various efforts are... by Finding Genius Podcast
24 min listen
S2E63: Carbon removal in the Biden Administration—w/ Dr. Jan Mazurek, ClimateWorks Foundation by Reversing Climate Change
52 min listen
S3E21: Direct Ocean Capture or Direct Air Capture?—w/ Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura by Reversing Climate Change
43 min listen
Talks About Carbon Reduction? It's All Hot Air Unless you Remove It. by The Edge of Energy
32 min listen
This company is removing harmful carbon from the air with the aim to get the world to net zero and keep global warming below 1.5°C by Sustainability Champions
45 min listen
Is the Rise In CO2 From Your COVID Mask Actually Doing You Some Good? by Super Human Radio
71 min listen
Earth911 Podcast: Global Thermostat's Graciela Chichilnisky on Distributed Carbon Capture Economies: Dr. Graciela Chichilnisky, co-founder and CEO of Global Thermostat, pioneered climate change policy and sustainable development planning, participating in the development of the Kyoto Protocol and as lead U.S. author for the United Nations'... by Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear
26 min listen
Carbon Dioxide Removal with Roger Aines by Climate Now
39 min listen
Is there a profitable approach to carbon capture and storage? by Climate Now
32 min listen
The Underappreciated Role of Carbon Dioxide in Health - Discussion between Georgi Dinkov and Dr. Mercola: In this interview, Georgi Dinkov reviews the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in health. CO2 is typically thought of as nothing more than a harmful waste product of respiration, but it’s actually a driver of mitochondrial energy production, and it... by Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
58 min listen
Carbon capture and storage: Can we just suck the CO2 problem out of the air? by The Climate Question
28 min listen
Sustainability: Carbon Offsets and the Issue of Greenwashing by Thoughts on the Market
8 min listen
Helen Rogers and Luthais McCash | Part 2: Environmental Physics | #8 by The Galileo Interviews with Caspar Gleave
34 min listen
Helen Rogers and Luthais McCash | Part 3: Physics Education | #9 by The Galileo Interviews with Caspar Gleave
66 min listen
Hydrogen with Dr Fiona Simon (300): So many earthly problems can be addressed- at least theoretically - with Hydrogen. Most involve switching from carbon but many engineering issues arise. We have never done this at scale. Is Hydrogen the answer ? Dr Karl discusses a H2... by Shirtloads of Science
26 min listen
End Tidal CO2; Roadside to Resus: End Tidal CO2, or ETCO2 for short, is something that’s talked about pretty often in Emergency and Critical Care and that’s because it’s used a lot in the assessment and treatment of patients! It’s got a big part to play in airway management,... by The Resus Room
53 min listen
Earth911 Podcast: Talking Eco-Anxiety and Carbon Capture With Dr. Erica Dodds: Environmental doom hangs over the youngest generations, who need a clear path to climate recovery to regain their optimism. Earth911 talks with Dr. Erica Dodds, chief operating officer of the Foundation for Climate Restoration, a young expert in... by Earth911.com's Sustainability In Your Ear
20 min listen
Putting the Fizz Back into Planet Earth: Can we find a use for all that pesky climate-changing carbon dioxide? Tom Heap reports. by Costing the Earth
28 min listen
Helen Rogers and Luthais McCash | Part 1: Interdisciplinary Science | #7 by The Galileo Interviews with Caspar Gleave
29 min listen
Pulling back the curtain on the promise of low-carbon hydrogen: When we talk about the technologies the world will need to tackle climate change, low-carbon hydrogen is increasingly part of the discussion. Two recent studies raise some big questions about whether some of these hydrogen technologies are as... by ESG Insider: A podcast from S&P Global
32 min listen
Ep. 56: Carbon Dioxide As A Key To Raising Metabolism (Oxygenation, Swelling, and pH Balance Part 1): In this episode we discuss: Why increasing carbon dioxide production is key if we want to increase our metabolism Whether burning carbohydrates is the best way to raise carbon dioxide How carbon dioxide interacts with our cellular protein structure ... by The Energy Balance Podcast
66 min listen
Ep 9 | How Can Capturing Carbon and Monitoring Methane Play a Role in the Energy Transition? by Energy Transition Talk
66 min listen
S3E45: Mixing Fast and Slow Carbon: The Nori Blended Tonne—w/ Radhika Moolgavkar, Nori's Head of Supply & Methodology by Reversing Climate Change
34 min listen
Tech Boom? What About A Carbon Removal Boom? by The Bay
23 min listen
Episode 76: Craig Idso on the Benefits of CO2 by Power Hour with Alex Epstein
59 min listen
S2E62: The Oxford Offsetting Principles & carbon removal—w/ Eli Mitchell-Larson by Reversing Climate Change
65 min listen
S1 #5 | DAC and storage: can we engineer our way out of this? by The Carbon Removal Show | Negative Emissions, Net Zero, Climate Positive
46 min listen
Kevin Trenberth - Nobel Prize-winning Climate Scientist - Author of “The Changing Flow of Energy Through the Climate System”: Conversation on climate change, IPCC, 1.5 degree, flow of energy through the climate system by Sustainability, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Politics, Activism, Biodiversity, Carbon Footprint, Wildlife, Regenerative Agriculture, Circular Economy, Extinction, Net-Zero · One Planet Podcast
58 min listen
S2E60: Art out of thin (carbontech) air—w/ Madison Savilow of Carbon Upcycling & Expedition Air by Reversing Climate Change
48 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

How do you convert CO2 into jet fuel?

How do you convert CO2 into jet fuel?

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Related podcast episodes