# I have invented a invention! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221 "2010-12-23T20:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/1 "2010-12-23T20:52:02Z")
My invention uses ambient CO2, snaps off the carbons and cobbles them into graphene (mega-glorious carbon membrane 1 atom thick) and releases O2 back into the wilderness. I can even configure it to make O3 because it’s just that great (and I’ve got me a stovepipe to the stratosphere where I vent the stuff). I’m tapped into a nice geothermal vent for my power generation—It’s a totally green operation. Let’s say it’s a really big gadget, too, and everybody loves it and they’re popping up all over the globe. Eventually, atmospheric CO2 levels are actually dropping and O2 levels are rising. The eco people are getting hostile again but I’m rich now so I silence them. Assuming nobody really knows how the global climate works, what are the effects on critters of our atmosphere becoming depleted of CO2? Of rising O2 levels? ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/2 "2010-12-23T20:57:35Z")
I don’t think the plants and trees would be too happy about there being no more CO2 in the atmosphere. Given that they are at, or near, the bottom of a lot of food chains you could end up doing more damage than good. Best to use it sparingly I think. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/3 "2010-12-23T20:58:04Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > I don’t think the plants and trees would be too happy about there being no more CO2 in the atmosphere. Given that they are at, or near, the bottom of a lot of food chains you could end up doing more damage than good. Best to use it sparingly I think. But wouldn’t it be worth it, to use diamond as a building material? 🙂 If O[sub]2[/sub] level goes above some figure like 27%, WHOOSH. Everything that can burn, will. Thus recombining the excess oxygen and restoring Nature’s balance. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/4 "2010-12-23T21:09:50Z")
One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/5 "2010-12-23T21:32:43Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Assuming nobody really knows how the global climate works… Why? Are you saying to exclude these effects for the purposes of this thread, or are you disputing that there would be any effects? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/6 "2010-12-23T21:57:14Z")
Well, the last time we had 32% oxygen in the atmosphere, we had scorpions 3 feet long … ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/7 "2010-12-24T02:18:02Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Well, the last time we had 32% oxygen in the atmosphere, we had scorpions 3 feet long … And cockroaches that would bite your head off. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/8 "2010-12-24T02:50:25Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Assuming nobody really knows how the global climate works, what are the effects on critters of our atmosphere becoming depleted of CO2? Of rising O2 levels? There would be almost no effect on the overall O[sub]2[/sub] level even if you replaced ALL the CO[sub]2[/sub] with O[sub]2[/sub] because there’s so little CO[sub]2[/sub] relative to O[sub]2[/sub]. > **[Atmosphere of Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earth)** > > The atmosphere of Earth consists of a layer of mixed gas (commonly referred to as air) that is retained by gravity, surrounding the Earth's surface. It contains variable quantities of suspended aerosols and particulates that create weather features such as clouds and hazes. The atmosphere serves as a protective buffer between the Earth's surface and outer space. It shields the surface from most meteoroids and ultraviolet solar radiation, reduces diurnal temperature variation – the temperature e... > [@](#): > > Dry air contains roughly (by volume) 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.039% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average around 1%. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/9 "2010-12-24T03:33:42Z")
Wow, I did not realize that the CO2 was _that_ low. It makes you wonder how the plants manage. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/10 "2010-12-24T03:39:58Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up! Is there anything we could do about that? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/11 "2010-12-24T03:52:39Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Is there anything we could do about that? With today’s technology - probably not. Even burning all the available oil probably wouldn’t extend the life of the planet by more than a few centuries. However, if Humanity ca survive for 500 Million years, we might have the technology to recycle the CO2 that is now trapped in limestone and put it back into the atmosphere. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/12 "2010-12-24T19:08:26Z")
With sufficient energy, you can bake CO2 out of limestone. We don’t have the technology now to produce energy on the scale required. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/13 "2010-12-24T20:55:50Z")
Well at least we’ll be able to toast our demise with all the sparkling seawater we can drink… ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/14 "2010-12-24T21:17:08Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up! cite? I’ve never heard anything of the sort. Anyway, your awfully close to the way they make carbon nanotubes. Generally they use carbon monoxide instead. Converting CO[sub]2[/sub] into CO is pretty easy. With the practically infinite energy you suggest, you can simply release more CO[sub]2[/sub] from lime stone and the like. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/15 "2010-12-25T00:08:28Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > cite? I’ve never heard anything of the sort. > > Anyway, your awfully close to the way they make carbon nanotubes. Generally they use carbon monoxide instead. Converting CO[sub]2[/sub] into CO is pretty easy. With the practically infinite energy you suggest, you can simply release more CO[sub]2[/sub] from lime stone and the like. Here’s one from the [SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-470717.html). I found others, but they seem to refer to the same book. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/16 "2010-12-25T04:39:29Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > With sufficient energy, you can bake CO2 out of limestone. We don’t have the technology now to produce energy on the scale required. ☹ We do this right now in the production of lime. IIRC, the limestone has to be heated up to about 800 C. The main use of lime is in making cement. Some, but not all the CO[sub]2[/sub] is reabsorbed in the cement as it cures. Basically it’s changing back into limestone, but mainly just the surface layer. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/17 "2011-03-18T12:12:22Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up! I just want to know if the above scenario has a name I can google. I want to read up on it a bit, but I’m not sure what to search for. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/18 "2011-03-18T12:43:04Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up! Plants? Marty, where we’re going, we don’t need plants! ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/19 "2011-03-18T12:51:29Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Wow, I did not realize that the CO2 was _that_ low. It makes you wonder how the plants manage. CO[sub]2[/sub] dissolves in our atmosphere, but it \*is \*heavy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221/20 "2011-03-18T12:55:12Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > The eco people are getting hostile again but I’m rich now so I silence them. > [@Sunspace](#): > > If O[sub]2[/sub] level goes above some figure like 27%, WHOOSH. Everything that can burn, will. Thus recombining the excess oxygen and restoring Nature’s balance. He’s going to silence the ‘eco people’ with a flamethrower. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-invented-a-invention/565221.md?page=2)