Forests are the green lungs of our planet. During the day, trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we need to breathe. But at night, the process is reversed and the forest produces carbon dioxide. What does this mean for the global climate equation? That's what we consider in this edition of Futuris.

In a forest in northern Italy, researchers from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre have set up a monitoring station that measures the oxygen/CO2 exchange at ground level and in the air, above the trees.

The scientists need a head for heights to check and recalibrate the instruments. Sensors installed in the treetops collect the data to better understand how changes in the climate affect the forest's biochemistry...