Washington, July 16 - The accidental discovery of a bowl-shaped molecule that pulls carbon dioxide out of the air paves the way for exciting new possibilities to deal with global warming.

These possibilities include genetically engineering microbes to manufacture those carbon dioxide 'catchers', said J.A. Tossell, a Maryland University scientist who led the study.

He noted that another scientist discovered the molecule while doing research unrelated to global climate change.

Carbon dioxide was collecting in the molecule, and the scientist realised that it was coming from air in the lab. Tossell recognised that these qualities might make it useful as an industrial absorbent for removing carbon dioxide.