Articles tagged with Methane
A study suggests that long ago, Earth's atmosphere spent about a million years filled with a methane-rich haze, clearing the way for massive amounts of oxygen. The transformation resulted in an atmosphere much like the one that sustains life on Earth today.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that high methane levels in well water are likely from shallow natural gas deposits, not hydraulic fracturing. The study used chemical and geographic evidence to tie elevated methane levels to these natural sources.
A Washington State University research team has developed a more efficient catalytic reaction to convert methane into useful products, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy waste. The innovation could lead to significant energy savings in the oil and gas industry.
Researchers at Duke University developed tiny rhodium nanoparticles that convert carbon dioxide into methane using ultraviolet light, potentially reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The discovery offers a promising alternative energy source and could be scaled up for industrial applications.
A team of scientists has discovered how bacteria make the coenzyme F430, which facilitates the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into methane gas. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more effective and easier-to-grow methanogenic bacteria for energy production.
A new study found that warming ponds can release almost twice as much methane and absorb half as much carbon dioxide over a seven-year period. This amplifies the effects of global warming on these small ecosystems, contributing significantly to climate change.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a laboratory-scale system that produces green hydrogen at relatively low temperatures, capturing CO2 emissions. The CO2/H2 Active Membrane Piston (CHAMP) reactor can be scaled up or down to meet specific needs and operates more slowly than conventional engines.
Researchers conclude that warming climate causes gas hydrate breakdown, but emissions are small and mostly remain in undersea sediments. The study challenges the popular perception of catastrophic methane releases from hydrates.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, real-time imaging system that can detect methane gas leaks in pipelines and oil and gas facilities. The system uses active hyperspectral imaging technology and a single-pixel camera to acquire videos of gas leaking at a rate of 0.2 liters per minute.
A new study estimates global methane emissions from oil and gas systems to be double previous estimates, with the Russian oil industry being a major contributor. The study found that methane recovery systems have helped reduce emissions since the 1990s, but increasing shale gas production has offset these gains.
Researchers suggest early Mars was warmed by greenhouse effects from methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. This could have supported liquid water on the surface, increasing the chances of finding life. The study's findings provide new insights into Mars' climate and its potential for hosting life.
A new study finds that methane emissions in the San Francisco Bay Area are about 1.8 times higher than estimated, with biological sources accounting for 82% and fossil fuel sources for 17%. The research highlights the importance of reducing methane levels to meet California's greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Researchers find that methane and other short-lived greenhouse gases impact sea levels for hundreds of years after being cleared from the atmosphere, with some effects even more long-lasting. The study highlights the importance of understanding climate change duration and its consequences for coastal regions.
Researchers argue that waste methane can be turned into valuable chemicals through biomanufacturing, which could meet industry's needs and reduce environmental impact. By operating at smaller scales, biomanufacturing facilities can be closer to feedstocks and point of need, facilitating faster innovation.
Research reveals that large gem diamonds, like Cullinan and Lesotho Promise, formed from pure carbon crystalized in a pool of liquid metal. The study provides insights into deep Earth processes and oxygen availability in the mantle.
Global methane concentrations have grown faster than at any point in the past two decades, posing a significant threat to climate change mitigation efforts. The rapid increase in methane emissions is attributed primarily to agricultural sources, particularly rice paddies and cattle pastures.
Researchers at Penn State are using a computer program to analyze water quality data from Pennsylvania's streams, rivers, and private wells to detect potential environmental impacts of Marcellus Shale gas drilling. The study found that methane concentrations tend to be higher around fault lines.
Researchers have precisely dated the evolution of a brittle fault in western Norway, providing insights into methane release from the ocean floor. The study reveals that active methane leakage from the sea floor occurs episodically and frequently, with some seeps activating annually.
Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have created a new delafossite-based catalyst that converts CO2 into liquid hydrocarbon-based fuels, including diesel. This breakthrough process removes harmful CO2 from the atmosphere and offers a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explains that bacteria break down dissolved organic matter in seawater, creating methane as a byproduct. The researchers found that microbes use polysaccharides to access phosphorus, a rare nutrient in seawater, which is essential for their survival.
Scientists at the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station have documented ancient methane-derived carbon in stonefly biomass across four river floodplains. The research reveals that up to 67% of the carbon in stonefly tissue came from methane, with millennial-aged and ancient carbon sources identified.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a process to mix unmodified lignin with rubber, producing high-performance renewable thermoplastics containing up to 41% lignin. The researchers also studied methane storage in tight shales using neutron scattering, finding that smaller pores hold twice the amount of methane as l...
A new study reveals that a small number of super-emitting natural gas wells are responsible for more than half of US methane emissions. The findings suggest that focusing on finding and fixing the biggest leaks can significantly reduce emissions.
Researchers studied the distribution and characteristics of natural gas hydrates in fine-grained sediments from Shenhu area, South China Sea. They found that foraminifera shells played a crucial role in increasing porosity and hydrate accumulation.
A team of scientists has discovered that sulfate in the ocean limited atmospheric methane to a tiny fraction, contradicting previous climate models. This finding suggests that oxygen levels were much lower than initially thought, and changed the way methane behaved in the atmosphere.
Researchers discovered a new genus of bacteria, Frackibacter, thriving in hydraulic fracturing wells alongside other microbes. The microbes form self-sustaining ecosystems providing their own food sources, and some are even producing methane, a potential supplement to the wells' energy output.
Researchers developed a staged separation method that can reduce venting and flaring of natural gas from wells by up to 70 percent. The approach involves using high-pressure and low-pressure steps to separate gas, resulting in more sustainable oil production processes.
A new method to quantify methane emissions from livestock manure has been proposed, addressing the significant problem of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. The approach uses laboratory measurements and a simple model to calculate daily emissions and evaluate the effects of changes in management or treatment.
A new technique detects methane leaks in real time, informing strategies to meet federal limits on emissions from the oil and gas industry. The approach identified 250 methane plumes emanating from various sources, including natural gas processing facilities and pipeline leaks.
A new study found that Arctic methane seeps have a strong localized influence on benthic organism abundance and diversity. The total biomass at seepage sites was significantly higher than nearby non-seepage sites, but with lower species diversity due to the presence of a few highly tolerant or specially adapted species.
Researchers have discovered liquid methane-filled canyons hundreds of meters deep with walls as steep as ski slopes etched into Titan's surface. The findings provide the first direct evidence of these features and could give scientists insights into Titan's origins and similar geologic processes on Earth.
A team of scientists has developed a new process using a novel ceramic membrane to convert methane to aromatics, eliminating CO2 emissions and reducing processing steps. The resulting chemicals are valuable products for insulation materials, plastics, textiles, and jet fuel.
Researchers analyzed public data to determine the sources and occurrence rate of methane in groundwater. The majority of dissolved methane was found to be microbially-generated, rather than high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
A recent study suggests that re-wetting dried riverbeds releases dissolved carbon and greenhouse gases, including methane and CO2. This process may also contribute to ocean acidification. However, restoration of wetlands is expected to outweigh the negative effects, supporting biodiversity and mitigating storm erosion.
Global Aerospace Corporation and Northrop Grumman will develop a new exploration vehicle for Saturn's moon Titan, addressing technical challenges with innovative engineering approaches. The Titan Winged Aerobot concept incorporates ultra-low power requirements and extended vertical range, enabling long-lived flight at low altitudes.
Researchers developed novel techniques to visualize uncultured microbial cell activity using BONCAT, a high-throughput and cost-effective approach. This method identifies individual active cells and clusters within microbial communities, providing insights into the ecological function of microorganisms.
Researchers analyzed nearly three decades of air samples from Alaska's North Slope and found little change in long-term methane emissions. The findings suggest that processes regulating methane emissions need more study, as the Arctic warms faster than other regions.
A new study suggests that estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay could be a significant source of atmospheric methane, potentially more so than previously thought. Methane release is linked to eutrophication and anoxia in these bodies of water.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have created a reactor that can continuously produce methanol from methane at room temperature and pressure. The innovative 3D-printed polymer-based system retains high enzyme activity, enabling highly controlled reactions with greater flexibility and efficiency.
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that global ethane emissions are increasing again after a steady decline between 1970 and 2005. The majority of the increase is attributed to North American oil and gas activity, which has reversed the emission controls implemented in the past.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that carbon dioxide emissions from dry soils will strengthen the climate forcing impact of thawing permafrost. In contrast, oxygen-poor wetlands primarily release methane. The research highlights the need to monitor changes in soil moisture conditions, which have a greater effect on carb...
A study by Northern Arizona University's Christina Schädel found that carbon dioxide is the largest contributor to permafrost thawing, with dry soils releasing more CO2 than wet ones. This discovery highlights the need to monitor changes in soil moisture conditions to better understand the impact of permafrost thawing on climate change.
Research by Dr Iain Hartley at the University of Exeter found that carbon dioxide is the biggest player in controlling future rates of permafrost thaw. Soils with dry conditions release more than three times as much carbon as those with wet, low-oxygen conditions.
A national testing facility will be built at Colorado State University to evaluate new technologies for sensing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The facility, funded by ARPA-E, will simulate real-world industry conditions and allow research teams to test new technologies.
Researchers found that an underwater site off the coast of Greece was actually a natural geological formation, not the ruins of a lost civilization. The site's unique structure was created by mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps, with microbes using methane as fuel to form a type of natural cement.
These unique ecosystems sustain a diverse range of marine life, including tube worms, giant crabs, and mussels, which consume methane and toxic sulfide. The hydrothermal vents and seeps also release minerals and heat, creating rocks and habitat that can last for tens of thousands of years.
Research from UiT The Arctic University of Norway suggests that methane emissions from the seabed in the Arctic Ocean do not significantly affect the atmosphere. Scientists performed measurements near the seabed, in the ocean and atmosphere, to determine if methane is being released into the air.
Researchers at ETH Zurich successfully upgraded methane into methyl bromide, a base material for fuels and chemicals, through oxybromination chemistry. The new catalyst, vanadium phosphate, enables closed-bromine recycling, making the process more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Microbes produce methane by attaching a methyl radical to coenzyme M, contradicting previous ideas that relied on a nickel-based mechanism. This discovery could lead to breakthroughs in designing energy-efficient catalysts for converting methane into fuels and chemicals.
Researchers have identified a free radical as the key mechanism behind methane production in bacteria, resolving decades of controversy. This finding sets the stage for developing new technologies to harness and generate methane for energy purposes.
Researchers from University of Cincinnati identified sources of methane in three US states using isotopic composition analysis. Methane levels came from organic matter decay and biological processes in coal formations, with fracking contributing to high emissions in some areas.
Researchers found that methane release from the ocean floor followed ice sheet retreats, but the process occurred over a prolonged period. The study used radiometric dating to determine the timing of the releases, which were too slow to impact atmospheric methane concentrations.
A new study by Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) reveals that the 3-nitrooxypropanol compound reduces methane production in ruminants without harming their health. This finding opens up possibilities to decrease global temperatures and increase efficiency of ruminant production systems.
A new test has been developed to identify shale gas hazard in groundwater by fingerprinting methane gas with unique natural gas signatures. This will enable responsible exploration and extraction practices, addressing public concerns over water contamination.
A new tool, FEAST, calculates economic costs of different methane leak detection technologies and identifies the most cost-effective methods. The study found that selectively targeting super-emitters can help mitigate methane leakage at lower costs, while expensive instruments can be used if leak detection is performed rapidly.
Researchers have developed a new approach to convert methane into methanol using copper-containing silicon aluminum compounds as catalysts at constant temperatures and high pressures. This process can potentially reduce the energy waste associated with current industrial methods.
A recent study by Boston University researchers found that almost a sixth of gas leaks in metropolitan Boston are potentially explosive and can pose significant safety risks. The study, published in Environmental Pollution, emphasizes the need for better detection methods to prioritize leak repairs.
A team of chemists, led by Mu-Hyun Baik, has achieved the first-ever efficient activation of methane's C-H bond using a hybrid computational-experimental approach. The method enables the conversion of methane into liquid methanol, paving the way for petroleum independence and alternative fuel production.
Researchers create a borylation reaction using methane, enabling the production of complex molecules like pharmaceuticals without releasing greenhouse gases. The study aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable use of abundant natural gas.
A recent study by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology reveals a significant correlation between oil and natural gas production in the USA and an increase in atmospheric methane concentrations. The research suggests that thermogenic methane from the oil and gas industry contributes to at least 40% of the global increase in methane concent...