Growth industry

Take two issues that are often in the news these days — carbon capture and food miles.

Would it not be possible to filter out the heavy metals, radioactive contamination and other nasties from coal-fired power station chimneys and re-direct the warm, moist carbon dioxide-laden air through a few thousand greenhouses full of tomatoes and tulips?

This local supply of electricity could also be used to power lights when the sun doesn't shine.

The other (possibly more serious) option that is currently being investigated is to capture carbon using algae to produce oil, which is an interesting counterpoint to your article 'Nature study' (

) about using artificial photosynthesis in aerogels.