It’s not hard to find wacky ideas about science on the internet — bizarre concepts that stand out because they are so far removed from reality. However, when popular ideas about science are very nearly correct — but not quite — such subtle errors can be hard to spot. A fascinating example involves our popular explanations for the relationship between trees and carbon dioxide. It’s not that these popular explanations are completely wrong — in fact they are mostly correct — and yet the limitations of some of these models can lead to erroneous conclusions.
Below are six common mental models that we often use to explain the connection between trees and carbon dioxide. Many of us have been exposed to more than one of these concepts, although we might rely on a single model as our principal mental framework for the topic. All six of these models can be found in educational materials and on the internet. As we examine these six ideas, it may be useful for you to consider which model most closely aligns with what you have been taught.
Read The Philipendium story by R. Philip Bouchard - “Trees and Carbon Dioxide: What Is the Truth?”
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