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Health & Science5h 30m ago

Researchers found photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth, suggesting trees may store less planet-heating carbon than previously hoped.

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US, eastern US, California

Who
Mukund Palat Rao, carbon cycle scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University
What
Researchers found photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth, suggesting trees may store less planet-heating carbon than previously hoped.
When
Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT · 5h 30m ago
Where
US, eastern US, California ·
Why
Scientists studied 137 sites across the US and found trees stopped growing months before photosynthesis ceased, indicating a decoupling of photosynthesis and wood growth.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

If forests store less carbon than estimated by current models, it reduces a key natural defense against climate change. This could necessitate greater reliance on technological solutions for carbon removal.

Story chain

11 events in this thread
  1. Currently Reading5h 30m ago
    Researchers found photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth, suggesting trees may store less planet-heating carbon than previously hoped.
  2. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    Researchers found photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth, suggesting trees may store less planet-heating carbon than hoped.
    Open article
  3. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A new study suggests trees may store less planet-heating carbon than hoped, as photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  4. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests trees may not store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, with researchers finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  5. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests that trees may not be able to store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, with researchers finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  6. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests trees may not store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  7. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests trees may not store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  8. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    Photosynthesis does not always result in wood growth, a key factor in carbon dioxide sequestration.
    Open article
  9. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests that trees may not store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, with researchers finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  10. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A new study indicates that trees may store less planet-heating carbon than anticipated, as photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article
  11. Health & Science5h 30m ago
    A study suggests trees may not be able to store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.
    Open article

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