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Utah's redrock may have changed global climate

Researchers found evidence suggesting that the Navajo Sandstone in Utah may have been a large hydrocarbon reservoir, releasing bleaching gas into the atmosphere. The study suggests that this release could have influenced Earth's ancient climate and had significant implications for global carbon fluxes.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeology·DateDec 3, 2003

UCI study uncovers unexpectedly high air pollutant levels in southwest states

A UCI study found unexpectedly high hydrocarbon levels in central and southwest US regions, including Oklahoma City, with pollution levels exceeding those in high-smog cities. The research suggests total hydrocarbon emissions are higher than previously estimated, contributing to the American air pollution problem.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2003

Much oil remains to be tapped below Gulf of Mexico

A study has identified a vast network of subsurface streams and ponds in the northern Gulf of Mexico basin that are believed to contain significant amounts of untapped oil and gas. The discovery, made by Cornell University professor Lawrence M. Cathles, estimates that these reserves could be as large as those found in the North Sea.

Microbial hydrocarbon 'cracking'

Researchers discover microbes convert saturated hydrocarbon hexadecane to methane and carbon dioxide, leading to potential methane formation in old sediments. This process, known as microbial hydrocarbon 'cracking,' sheds light on slow yet globally relevant microbial processes in deep subsurface environments.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateSep 15, 1999

Scientists identify molecular source of friction

Physicists at Johns Hopkins University have identified the molecular origins of static friction, resolving a long-standing issue in understanding Amontons' classic laws. The 'gunk in the middle' - hydrocarbon molecules between surfaces - provides an explanation for the linear relationship between force and load.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience·DateJun 3, 1999