Carbon dioxide-trapping inventions win $20M prize

Organizers of a $20 million contest to develop products from greenhouse gas that flows from power plants announced two winners Monday ahead of launching a similar but much bigger competition backed by Elon Musk.

Both winners made concrete that trapped carbon dioxide, keeping it out of the atmosphere, said Marcius Extavour, XPRIZE vice president of climate and energy.

Musk, the electric car and space entrepreneur, has pledged $100 million for researchers who can show how to trap carbon dioxide and store the gas. That competition kicks off Thursday, which is Earth Day.