this post was submitted on 04 May 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 113 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (4 children)

While I don't want to spoil the joke (but I will) and I hate techno-optimist solutions that displace actual solutions for our biosphere as much as the next person: supposedly, Belgrade is such a dense concrete hell that trees aren't viable solution (at least in the short term).

There is some rumbling that liquid trees are not the solution to the real problems caused by large-scale deforestation, nor does it reduce erosion or enrich the soil. However, much of this wrath is misplaced as Liquid tree designers say that it was not made as a replacement for trees but was designed to work in areas where growing trees would be non-viable. Initiatives like Trillion Trees are laudable, but there is something to be said for the true utility of this tiny bioreactor. The fact that they can capture useful amounts of carbon dioxide from day one is another benefit for them. Such bioreactors are expected to become widespread in urban areas around the world as the planet battles rising carbon levels in the atmosphere.

Source

[–] ThunderWhiskers@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago

Also, trees are surprisingly difficult to keep alive if they were artificially introduced to a location. Turns out they don't thrive in a concrete hellscape super well.

[–] tostiman@sh.itjust.works 49 points 12 hours ago

They can thrive in tap water and can withstand temperature extremes.

So maybe they can be used in regions that are too hot for trees, like desert cities

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

And for people who think that the trillion tree idea is anything else than just the oil lobby running with a feel good solution, I have a great podcast episode for you

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3AZIvnCFvavc9Qfs10XPxW

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 16 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

Spotify doesn't work on my phone. Care to link the podcast page on a platform not trying to corner the market, please?

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I listen to it on apple podcasts if that helps

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 4 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

How, if I can't find out which podcast it is?

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world -3 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

You can click the spotify link and it literally tells you what it is

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[–] termaxima@programming.dev 35 points 12 hours ago

We can have both trees and this ! Let’s replace the stupid ad spots on bus stops with these 😮

[–] rivvvver@lemmy.dbzer0.com 96 points 15 hours ago (5 children)

im guessing "where will the animals go" is also a stupid question?

[–] RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 58 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Also, where do I find the shade?

[–] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 24 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

You will shelter next to the goo tank and you will like it.

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[–] Flames5123@sh.itjust.works 15 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Exactly what I love about the Seattle tree coverage. So much shade.

[–] glilimith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 hours ago

Shade from what? Yall don't even have the sun, lol

[–] wiccan2@lemmy.world 7 points 10 hours ago

I would guess into the tree soup.

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 7 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Upkeep costs. Oh, wait.

[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 62 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (2 children)

They get in the way of parking spots. The steel cages must rule supreme.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 9 hours ago

The steel cages must rule supreme.

Just ask The Undertaker and Mankind...

[–] illi@lemm.ee 13 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

These have to take up more space than a tree...

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 10 hours ago

I think the idea behind this is that algae are more space-efficient than trees at producing oxygen and/or capturing CO2. Of course this is also ignoring that the bulk of a tree's volume is high above the ground, and they also provide other things like shade and shelter for insects etc.

[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

When this was proposed the idea was that one of tank can replace two trees and it can be put in corners that are too small for trees (and cars). When you consider the space for roots you can get at least one parking space per tank at the cost of making car-centric cities even more of an hell hole.

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[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 39 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

Real answer is probably that they'd be used in addition to trees, designed to fit in places unsuitable for a tree.

[–] DasFaultier@sh.itjust.works 25 points 14 hours ago

This. Trees (especially large ones) are a pain to irrigate properly, might not be drought-resistant, grow very slowly until they reach their full potential at removing CO2, interfere with infrastructure that we humans are used to (piping, electricity, telco), roots break up pavements, branches can be a hazard after storms, fruit might attract rats, ...

I'm very much pro trees (despite what I've listed in the first paragraph), but I'm sure there are places in cities where you can't plant trees but could put up algae tanks.

If you understand German (specifically Austrian dialect) you might like this podcast episode about challenges and methods to overcome them in the context of greenery in the city of Graz:

Simple Smart Buildings: Bäume in der Stadt

Webseite der Episode: https://podcasted3e6b.podigee.io/153-baume-in-der-stadt

Mediendatei: https://audio.podigee-cdn.net/1742586-m-9ecab280e580cd07f75c83ed9379b970.mp3?source=feed

TL;DL of this episode: it's not as simple as "just plant more trees".

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 6 points 13 hours ago

Yes. Algae is better in absorbing co2 than tree, but tree is important as a shade and creating a cooling effect for the surrounding. Both is important for different thing and combine it you get the best of both world, especially in a lot of urban area where planting big tree isn't possible

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[–] Trimatrix@lemmy.world 9 points 11 hours ago

Less infrastructure erosion from roots? Integration into places like above ground parking spaces? Hell could you imagine integrating them into bridge underpasses or walk ways? Heck make a semi destructible version and use that for crash bollards. Only a level 5 vegan is going to complain if some allege is spilt.

[–] DandomRude@lemmy.world 27 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Has the manufacturer even calculated how much energy is needed for production and how long it will take for the corresponding CO2 emissions to be amortized?

We are living in strange times...

[–] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago

And trees that are planted in cities are not seeded. They are grown in a forestry until they reach a certain height. And then dug up with machines transported with machines and then planted with machines. The CO2 produced to plant a single tree also takes quite a while to be absorbed by that tree.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 11 points 14 hours ago

Who cares? You can sell these tanks for a better profit than trees.

[–] umbraroze@slrpnk.net 20 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

Insert random copypasta about biotech breakthrough that turns water and CO2 and nutrients into sustainable building materials which sounds like space age technology but it's just trees

[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 22 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

You can’t charge a subscription fee for trees.

[–] abbadon420@lemm.ee 11 points 14 hours ago

What you can do is take all the trees and put them in a tree museum and charge the people a dollar and a half to see them.

[–] loomy@lemy.lol 8 points 14 hours ago

That's where youre wrong.

[–] Szewek@lemm.ee 5 points 11 hours ago

I guess it would take a lot of time to accommodate Mars for trees. More than for algae ;)

[–] TxzK@lemmy.zip 11 points 14 hours ago

trees are not as profitable

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