A whole new kind of carbon sequestering wood: The discovery of “midwood" in tulip trees by researchers at Cambridge University suggests that bioengineering trees with similar fibers could allow for the breeding of other tree species to boost their storage of carbon, according to a report by New Scientist.

More about the discovery: Researchers discovered that tulip trees — also known as liriodendron — possess a unique type of wood, dubbed “midwood” as it is neither hard nor soft, that could significantly enhance their ability to store carbon, according to research published in the New Phytologist. The new wood features larger fibers, known as macrofibrils, which might be more efficient at carbon sequestration.

What makes it different: Tulip trees diverged from the Magnolia genus 30-50 mn years ago during a period of declining atmospheric CO2 leading the tree species to evolve to improve carbon sequestration, the paper showed. “It was bang in the middle of when the planet was undergoing a big change in atmospheric CO2 levels,” co-author Raymond Wightman writes. The trees’ nanoscale structure sits between hardwood and softwood, with macrofibrils around 20 nanometers in diameter versus the typical 15 nanometers in hardwood and 25 nanometers in softwood.

What does this mean for natural carbon storage? Tulip trees already grow rapidly and are used in East Asian plantations to store carbon, according to the research. Their fast growth and high carbon intake make them promising candidates for reforestation projects aimed at mitigating climate change. The research team is also exploring the potential of bioengineering trees with midwood-sized macrofibrils to test their carbon storage capabilities. A successful outcome would allow for the breeding of other tree species to boost their storage of carbon.

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