Between 1970 and 2015, shipping accidents have resulted in 6 billion kilograms (13 billion pounds) of oil being released into open water, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation.
It’s an ecological nightmare that’s incredibly hard to resolve. But scientists at the University of Maryland have a novel solution: Burn it, using a new, clean type of fire they created in a lab. The researchers report they have discovered a state of burning that is nearly soot-free. Watch the video above to see how it works, and why it could be a boon for the environment.