The effort to build a better tree appears to be bearing fruit.

Scientists at Arizona State University’s Center for Negative Carbon Emissions and Ireland-based Silicon Kingdom Holdings (SKH) are rolling out a “mechanical tree” that they say is thousands of times more efficient at removing carbon dioxide from ambient air than the real thing.

The technology is one of a handful of new “passive” carbon capture technologies that draw CO2 from the atmosphere, allowing the harmful gas to be sequestered or sold for re-use in synthetic fuels, enhanced oil recovery or industrial applications.