Heirloom, a California startup, has raised $150 million to expand its carbon capture operations, aiming for profitability as it develops direct air capture technology. However, the captured carbon must be stored for at least 1,000 years to effectively mitigate climate change, a challenge that remains largely unaddressed in current strategies. Researchers emphasize that without long-term storage, short-term carbon removal efforts could lead to increased warming, undermining net zero goals.