Articles tagged with Methane
A team of researchers discovered that ancient microbes used a process similar to photosynthesis to produce methane 2.5 billion years ago, long before oxygen became available. This finding may have implications for understanding climate change, agriculture, and human health.
Rice University laser scientists have developed a highly sensitive portable sensor to test the air for nitrous oxide and methane. The device uses a thumbnail-sized quantum cascade laser and tuning forks, and can detect trace amounts of these greenhouse gases in as little as a second.
Scientists at NREL are working on a biological process to convert methane from fracking into liquid diesel fuel, which could lower dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The process uses microbes that can digest methane and produce lipids, the precursor to fuel.
Researchers have mapped nearly 6,000 pipeline leaks in Washington, D.C., with high concentrations found at 19 sites, including some manholes with methane levels up to 500,000 parts per million. The study highlights the need for financial incentives and targeted programs to reduce leaks and replace old cast-iron pipes.
Researchers from Duke University and Boston University found over 5,900 natural gas leaks under Washington, D.C., with concentrations as high as 500,000 parts per million. The leaks pose explosion risks and release high levels of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
University of Houston researchers aim to develop a method to convert methane, the main component of natural gas, into more valuable chemicals like methanol, ethane, or ethylene. The breakthrough could have significant economic and industrial value.
Scientists from GEOMAR found that methane hydrate outgassing off Svalbard is likely caused by natural processes, rather than global warming. The team discovered that seasonal temperature fluctuations can push the stability zone of gas hydrates, leading to outgassing.
A recent analysis suggests that reducing livestock emissions can help mitigate climate change, particularly methane and nitrous oxide. Ruminants, such as cattle, produce copious amounts of methane in their digestive systems, with greenhouse gas emissions from these animals being 19-48 times higher than plant-based protein sources.
Researchers at Rice University found that blending more ethanol into fuel can lead to the release of toxic or explosive gases, which can accumulate in buildings and pose health risks. The study highlights the need for new thinking on managing vapor-intrusion risks due to fuel spills.
Researchers found that the East Siberian Arctic Shelf is releasing at least 17 teragrams of methane into the atmosphere each year, doubling previous estimates. The rapid release of methane from the seafloor threatens to exacerbate global warming and create a positive feedback loop.
A study published in PNAS found that US methane emissions are nearly five times higher than previously estimated, with fossil fuel extraction and refining activities accounting for a major contributor. Livestock operations may also be twice as high as previously thought.
Studies conducted by Berkeley Lab researchers suggest that methane emissions from oil and gas production may account for a significant portion of underestimated emissions in California and nationwide. The research found that methane emissions are 1.3 to 1.8 times higher than current official inventory estimates in California.
A new study published in Science suggests that the increase in methane gas concentrations in the atmosphere from 5,000 years ago to the start of the industrial revolution was caused by both natural and human activities. The research, led by Logan Mitchell at Oregon State University, found that natural emissions from tropical wetlands a...
Researchers discovered that Methanosaeta, a prominent methane-producing microorganism, produces methane by making electrical connections with other microorganisms. This finding challenges previous understanding of methane production and has significant implications for optimizing bioenergy strategies.
Researchers have uncovered a unique way that microorganisms on the ocean floor consume methane, utilizing a rare metal called tungsten. The discovery provides insights into how these extreme environments might change in a warming world.
Researchers found that mammalian body size decreased during two ancient global warming events, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2). The study suggests that mammals may adapt to extreme warming by becoming smaller.
Scientists analyzed sediments from Peru to track changes in the deep biosphere's microbial ecosystem under the seafloor. The study reveals that this system is surprisingly dynamic and responds quickly to climate change, with the methane oxidation front migrating rapidly up or down due to changes in oceanographic conditions.
A team of researchers discovered that lithodid crabs subsist on bacterial mats at cold sea methane seeps. Crabs were observed grazing on the mats for 400 hours, taking up chemically-produced carbon, and even showing signs of photosynthesis in their bodies.
A University of Cincinnati study analyzes 25 groundwater wells for methane and hydrocarbons, shedding light on fracking's effects. The research aims to establish baseline assessments as fracking begins in the region.
Scientists have conducted high-pressure experiments to study methane's phases and reactivity under conditions found deep within planets. The findings suggest that methane is not a solid under any conditions met deep within most planets, contradicting previous assumptions.
A team of environmental engineers at the University of Texas at Arlington has received a grant to study the feasibility of landfill gas-to-energy in Ghana. The project aims to adapt a sensor system to boost methane production and create an alternative energy source.
Researchers found that beetles living in cow pats can reduce methane emissions from cattle farming. This discovery has significant implications for the climate impact of dairy and beef farming. The study suggests that if beetles can keep methane emissions down, it could lead to a smaller global warming effect.
A new analysis suggests that reducing only short-lived climate pollutants like soot and methane will have a smaller impact on limiting global warming. Focusing on all greenhouse gases is necessary to stabilize the climate system.
A new study has discovered a super-charged methane seep in the ocean off New Zealand that has created a unique food web. The presence of polychaetes worms, which consume bacteria enriched with methane, plays a critical role in stabilizing the ecosystem and preventing excessive greenhouse gas emissions.
A recent study published in Nature found that a single phenomenon of global warming in the Arctic - the release of methane from thawing permafrost - could have an average global price tag of $60 trillion. The authors modeled various methane release scenarios and stressed that the impacts of Arctic warming will be felt worldwide.
Scientists found that methane bubbles out of water behind small dams, increasing global freshwater emissions by up to 7%. The study reveals that dam construction can significantly impact the environment.
A Duke University-led study reveals that homeowners within one kilometer of shale gas wells are more likely to have contaminated drinking water with methane, ethane, and propane. The research analyzed 141 drinking water samples from private wells in northeastern Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale basin.
A German-American research team identified a sensor protein called MsmS in the microorganism Methanosarcina acetivorans. MsmS may serve as a 'food sensor' to detect energy sources, similar to bacteria but with potential differences in signal transduction systems.
University of Calgary researchers plan to deploy and test inexpensive methane biofilters to reduce low-volume methane emissions in the petroleum, forest, and agriculture industries. The project aims to convert methane to carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to global warming.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology reveals that microbial changes can regulate entire ecosystems, specifically mitigating the release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The research found that type II methanotrophic bacteria replaced other microbes, oxidizing methane and reducing its impact.
A recent study by Duke University and the USGS found no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas. The researchers sampled 127 shallow drinking water wells and analyzed the samples for major and trace elements, hydrocarbons, and isotopic tracers.
A UC Santa Barbara scientist and team found significant benefits to slowing climate change from reducing industrial methane emissions. Methane levels were highest near refineries, with nighttime concentrations enhanced by calm atmospheric layers.
Geologists at Indiana University studied the 'Eternal Flame' in Erie County, N.Y., which may feature high concentrations of ethane and propane. The researchers identified natural gas seeps in the region, suggesting they could contribute to atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
A computational study discovered several zeolite structures with sufficient methane sorption capacity and selectivity for effective capture. The most promising candidate, SBN, has an extraordinarily high performance for concentrating methane from low-quality natural gas and coal-mine ventilation air.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered new materials capable of capturing methane with high efficiency. The research focused on two applications: concentrating medium-purity methane streams and dilute streams above methane's flammability limit.
A recent study found that high concentrations of methane and hydrogen in breath are associated with a higher body mass index and percentage of body fat. The presence of the microorganism Methanobrevibacter smithii may contribute to obesity by altering the balance of gut bacteria.
A Cedars-Sinai study suggests that certain microorganisms in the gut may contribute to weight gain by allowing individuals to reap more calories from their food. The study found that people with high concentrations of methane and hydrogen gases in their breath had higher body mass indexes and body fat percentages.
University of Georgia researchers discovered essential genes in archaea that shed light on the history of microorganisms and the origins of life. The study found unique DNA synthesis systems, essential genes necessary for methane production, and insights into cell formation.
Soft robots designed by Harvard researchers can leap up to a foot in the air using small explosions of methane and oxygen. This fast-acting system could aid in search and rescue missions. The robots' jumping ability is made possible by a simple valve system and the brief, high-energy explosion.
Researchers found that wetland trees are a major source of methane emissions, accounting for up to 80% of total emissions. This challenges current models and highlights the importance of including tree emissions in field campaigns. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding methane flux in tropical wetlands.
A new study estimates that the cow-calf phase produces the greatest greenhouse gas emissions during beef production, with methane emissions from a roughage diet. This finding highlights the importance of managing cattle feed and nutrition to reduce carbon footprint.
Research using Cassini spacecraft observations reveals that Titan's craters are being filled by exotic sand dunes, suggesting a much older surface. The team compared craters on Titan to those on Ganymede and found that Titan's craters were significantly shallower, indicating erosion from windblown sand.
The project aims to develop microbes that can convert methane in natural gas into liquid diesel fuel. If successful, this could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower dependence on foreign oil. The research, funded by ARPA-E, involves genetic modification of microorganisms to produce lipids from methane.
Researchers at Northwestern University and UVA develop novel process to produce ethylene from methane using sulfur as a 'soft' oxidant. The conversion process uses sulfide catalysts to limit over-reaction of methane, producing hydrocarbon fragments that react to form ethylene.
Researchers at UT Arlington have developed a new imaging system that doubles methane gas production in the city of Denton landfill. The system will enable the landfill to power up to 3,000 homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
The University of Washington has been awarded a $4 million grant to develop bacteria that can turn methane in natural gas into diesel fuel. The team aims to capture wasted natural gas and use bacteria to convert it into energy-rich molecules, which will then be converted into diesel.
A UN report warns that thawing permafrost could significantly amplify global warming due to the release of potent greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. The report notes that permafrost covers nearly a quarter of the northern hemisphere, holding 1,700 gigatonnes of carbon.
A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges long-standing theories on marine methane oxidation. They found that a single microorganism, an archaeon, can perform both methane oxidation and sulfate respiration without the need for bacterial collaboration.
A recent study found that rice paddies are a significant source of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The research team discovered that increasing carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures boost rice yields but also increase methane emissions, highlighting the need for mitigation efforts to ensure a secure global food supply.
Researchers have determined that methane emissions in the Greenland ice sheet date back to Roman times, with a significant increase around 1800 due to industrialization. Today, more than half of methane emissions are man-made, primarily from agriculture and energy production.
A Wayne State University researcher is part of a national project to find accessible methane hydrate resources, which could provide untapped economic and energy security. The two-year grant aims to improve computer simulation programs for predicting gas production from these natural ice-lattice structures.
Scientists have found that a type of ocean microbe, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, produces methylphosphonic acid, which is a key component in the production of ocean methane. This discovery helps explain the 'methane paradox' and has implications for climate change modeling.
A new study finds that microorganisms may convert old organic matter to methane under oxygen-deprived conditions in sedimentary basins beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. This could lead to significant methane release if the ice sheet shrinks, exacerbating global climate change.
A new study suggests that beneath Antarctica's ice sheet lies a massive potential methane reservoir, with estimates suggesting up to 400 billion tonnes of carbon. Microorganisms in sub-ice environments have been found to metabolize organic carbon into methane gas, which could be released during future ice-sheet collapse.
Researchers have discovered that methane from lakebeds is present in fish tissue through the food chain. The study uses two biomarkers to confirm the finding, increasing the certainty of its results. Methane oxidizing bacteria are consumed by zooplankton and other aquatic organisms, which eventually end up in fish stomachs.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), have found that commercial natural gas capture accounts for up to 70% of the dramatic leveling off in atmospheric methane levels since the late-20th century. The study suggests that changes in fossil fuel use were a major factor in this trend.
Researchers have developed a material that catalyzes the burning of methane 30 times better than currently available catalysts. The discovery could lead to a cleaner and cheaper way of generating energy from natural gas, potentially reducing emissions of powerful greenhouse gas.
Researchers at Washington State University found that dams and reservoirs emit significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The study's findings suggest that managing drawdowns could reduce methane emissions and may even make decommissioning reservoirs a net sink for carbon.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered that diseased trees in forests can produce massive amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The estimated emission rate from an upland site is equivalent to burning 40 gallons of gasoline per hectare of forest per year.
Researchers create microbial factories to transform clean electricity from solar, wind, or nuclear power into renewable methane fuel. This approach could eliminate the need for fossil resources and produce eco-friendly alternatives like ethanol.