Nagaraj et al. (2026): Thrombolites as a potential nature-based solution for carbon dioxide removal
Veena Nagaraj, Daniel Gorman, M. James McLaughlin, Santonu K. Sanyal, Thomas Jones, et al., IN: Carbon Capture Science & Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2026.100651
Achieving net-zero targets requires emerging carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathways capable of contributing to long-term carbon storage. Microbialite communities, including stromatolites and thrombolites, are promising but under-explored biological platforms with potential for scalable CDR. Their deployment has been limited by uncertainties surrounding survivability in seawater, biomineralisation rates, net COâ‚‚ drawdown, and compatibility with engineered substrates. Here, the authors address four conceptual barriers using thrombolites from hypersaline Lake Clifton (Western Australia).