Mark’s journey to founding Newlight

In discussing his background and the inception of Newlight, Mark finds it challenging to separate the two, as he has been involved with Newlight since the age of 21. His journey began in high school, where his passion for science led him to participate in the National Oceanographic Science Bowl. Despite initially majoring in politics in college, Mark maintained an interest in science, studying math, chemistry, and physics concurrently. However, his path took a turn during his junior year when he faced a mysterious illness. After a year of struggling, he delved into research during the summer between junior and senior years, initially intending to pursue a postback and attend medical school. A pivotal moment occurred when he encountered a newspaper article about carbon emissions, reshaping his trajectory and ultimately leading to the formation of Newlight. 

Newlight & the problem it’s aiming to solve 

Mark emphasizes Newlight’s commitment to reducing carbon in the air. The innovative approach involves utilizing greenhouse gases as raw materials to manufacture various products. The core idea revolves around transforming supply chains to incorporate greenhouse gases into the physical composition of products. The goal is to leverage these supply chains as a means to actively decrease carbon levels in the atmosphere. For instance, envision everyday items like T-shirts, shoes, or furniture being crafted from carbon that would otherwise contribute to air pollution. This shift in manufacturing materials allows daily activities to reverse the carbon flow instead of adding to it.

The initial phase of Newlight’s development focused on translating this concept into tangible technology and products. The company explored the question of which technologies could facilitate this transformation. A key realization was the parallel with nature, where organisms naturally convert greenhouse gases into essential building blocks. Drawing inspiration from nature’s processes, the team sought out microorganisms capable of not only consuming greenhouse gases but also converting them into practical materials and products. This exploration spanned approximately five years before identifying the first microorganism with these capabilities.

Overview of the air carbon production process

Mark details the technology’s foundation in microorganisms that consume greenhouse gases. The development includes organisms capable of consuming both methane and carbon dioxide, with a preference for methane due to its greater environmental impact. These methane-consuming microorganisms, referred to as Athena troves, exist in natural settings such as estuaries, soils, and oceans.

These microorganisms produce a substance called PHB within their cells. Although not widely known, PHB is found in nearly all living things. The uniqueness of PHB lies in its ability to be melted, molded, and shaped into various forms, making it a potential substitute for plastic. What sets PHB apart is its inherent biodegradability, as it is recognized and broken down by natural microorganisms in environments like home compost.

The process involves cultivating these microorganisms in a saltwater solution, replicating the natural processes occurring in the ocean. Greenhouse gases serve as the feeding source for these microorganisms, which convert them into PHB. After purification, the PHB is obtained as a fine white powder, subsequently melted into pellets. Unlike traditional plastic, this material stands out for its biodegradability and its origin from greenhouse gases, making the overall production process carbon-negative.

Resources Mentioned

• Newlight

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