Articles tagged with Methane
Researchers at MIT have discovered a bacterial gene that enables microbes to thrive in oxygen-depleted conditions, producing lipid biomarkers that may signify dramatic changes in Earth's history. This discovery could provide insights into mass extinctions and climate disturbances.
Researchers are raising colonies of microorganisms that can turn electrical energy into pure methane, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The goal is to create large microbial factories to produce renewable methane fuel and valuable chemical compounds.
Researchers study natural gas impacts on drinking water, finding high methane concentrations near fracking sites. Gas leaks also cause soil changes, affecting urban ecosystems. The session discusses policy strategies to encourage cleaner natural gas distribution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that Arctic methane seepage is linked to melting ice caps, causing climate warming and sea level rise. This phenomenon could lead to significant shoreline retreat and erosion along the Florida coastline, posing a serious threat to coastal residents and infrastructure.
Researchers find methane source: intense UV radiation from meteorites releases methane from organic materials. Temperature affects methane production, with warmer regions having higher concentrations.
Researchers discovered that meteorites can generate methane when exposed to sunlight, which could account for a large part of Mars' atmosphere. This finding informs future Mars missions searching for life and suggests that sunlight and debris from meteorites play a role in shaping the planet's atmosphere.
A mathematical model suggests that sauropods could have produced more methane than all modern sources combined. The study calculates global methane emissions from sauropods to be around 520 million tons per year, comparable to total modern methane emissions.
Research from NASA-funded scientists uses data from Cassini and Huygens spacecraft to estimate how long Titan's methane factory has been operating, with estimated ages ranging from 10 million to 1.6 billion years. The study provides new perspectives on the history of Titan's atmosphere.
Research found that ammonites made homes in unique environments surrounding methane seeps, forming integral part of interwoven communities. Isotope analysis revealed that these ancient mollusks spent their whole lives in these ecosystems.
Scientists investigate constant lower crustal temperatures and variable water contents in mafic melts from the SW Japan arc, linking magmatic water to differentiation of arc magmas. High-resolution carbon-14 dating reveals lamination rates influenced by climate and lake geochemistry in ancient stromatolites. Methane seeps are found as ...
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to prevent undersea ice clogs by using passive coatings on pipe insides that inhibit methane hydrate adhesion. The coatings reduce hydrate adhesion to one-quarter of the amount on untreated surfaces, providing a simple and inexpensive solution.
A team of scientists from Oregon State University has documented for the first time that animals can consume Archaea, a type of single-celled microorganism. This finding adds a wrinkle to scientific understanding of greenhouse gas cycles and opens up new avenues of research into the roles of Archaea in ecosystems.
A 15-year study comparing experimental wetlands found that natural development led to higher carbon sequestration rates, but also increased methane emissions. The unplanted wetland retained more carbon, while the planted wetland was more diverse in plant communities.
Researchers found a unique ecosystem where hot and cold habitats intersect, featuring tubeworms, fish, mussels, and crabs. The discovery reveals new species and potential communities in the deep sea, highlighting the need for further exploration of this largely uncharted environment.
Researchers examine the link between climate warming and mass extinctions, revealing a direct consequence of Siberian trap volcanism. They also document land-based magnetic lineations similar to those found in sea-floor spreading centers and provide evidence for river drainage system rearrangement linked to ancient civilizations.
Researchers have discovered spatiotemporal variations of mid-upper tropospheric methane in China using satellite observations. The study reveals a center of low CH4 concentration over western China and seasonal cycles in eastern, northeastern, and northwestern China.
Researchers have accurately quantified molecular-scale interactions between gases and water molecules in gas hydrates. The study shows that hydrates can hold hydrogen at an optimal capacity of 5 weight-percent, meeting the Department of Energy standard.
A NASA study led by Drew Shindell suggests that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow global warming, improve health outcomes, and increase agricultural production. The measures focus on reducing black carbon and methane emissions, which have significant impacts on climate change and human health.
A new study by UCSB scientists reveals that the physical structure of the Gulf of Mexico played a key role in the disappearance of methane and other chemicals from the Deepwater Horizon well. The study used a computer model to demonstrate how underwater topography, currents, and bacteria contributed to the phenomenon.
Scientists used innovative computer model to demonstrate the roles of underwater topography, currents and bacteria in Gulf of Mexico. The resulting model revealed that physical structure of the gulf was a key factor in disappearance of hydrocarbon plumes, which were consumed by bacteria that swirled around the leaking well.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology developed a computer model that explains the distribution of clouds, lakes, and rainstorms on Titan. The model attributes these phenomena to the interaction between sunlight, atmospheric circulation, and methane reservoirs on the surface.
New calculations by Rice University researchers suggest that the ocean may have stored as much methane hydrate 56 million years ago as it does today. This could have released massive amounts of carbon, causing drastic climate change. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the impact of methane hydrates on global climate.
The AGGI measures the direct climate influence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, showing a 29% increase since 1990. Climate warming has significant potential impacts on society, including water supplies, agriculture, ecosystems, and economies.
A novel sewage digestion system designed by Duke University's Marc Deshusses has the potential to revolutionize sanitation in developing countries. The system captures methane gas produced during waste breakdown, using it to kill pathogens and destroy harmful bacteria.
A new study found that peatlands will continue to sequester their huge deposits of carbon and methane under moderate climate change conditions. The research used laboratory simulations to study the decomposition of wet bog peat, showing that carbon release slows down in deeply buried peat.
Theoretical chemists at Emory University have solved an important mystery about the rates of chemical reactions and the Polanyi rules. They found that a pre-reactive long-range force can align the reaction of a chlorine atom with methane, inhibiting the reaction. The research has implications for the development of cleaner fuels.
Researchers have found numerous channels allowing methane to reach the seafloor, and discovered solid hydrate formations that can release gas as the ocean warms. This study aims to improve understanding of methane origins, escape routes, and potential impacts on global climate change.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to pinpoint the amount of methane hydrates trapped under the seabed using shallow core samples. The technique, which analyzes transition zones between methane and sulfate, can aid in selecting deep drilling sites for expensive exploratory drilling.
A recent study suggests that relying on natural gas instead of coal would fail to significantly slow down climate change. The research found that a shift in energy sources could lead to a slight increase in worldwide warming over the next 40 years, with temperatures eventually dropping by only a few tenths of a degree.
New life-detection tools up to 1,000 times more sensitive than previous instruments are being used to search for evidence of life on Mars. Researchers are also searching the planet's atmosphere for signs of methane, which could indicate biological activity.
Astronomers at Caltech have discovered that the dwarf planet 2007 OR10, or Snow White, is an icy world with about half its surface covered in water ice. The findings suggest that the red-tinged dwarf planet may be covered in a thin layer of methane, remnants of an atmosphere slowly being lost into space.
Research highlights a significant increase in European storm frequency and strength since the late 19th century. However, Martian soil samples show moderate oxidation-reduction potential, suggesting that while oxidizing compounds may be present, life could still thrive.
Research in Greenland and Antarctica shows that fossil-fuel related emissions of methane and ethane declined at the end of the twentieth century. The study, led by Murat Aydin, found a common cause for the decline in both gases, linked to changes in energy use.
Two UC Irvine papers suggest that reduced use of petroleum and increased capture of natural gas contributed to the leveling off of methane levels in the atmosphere. In contrast, a second study found that changes in Asian farming practices, particularly the use of inorganic fertilizers, were a key factor in reducing methane emissions.
A recent study found that hydroelectric reservoirs emit significantly less carbon dioxide and methane than previously estimated, with an annual emission of 48 million metric tons. The research analyzed 85 globally-distributed reservoirs and concluded that these systems are not major contributors to the greenhouse gas problem.
Researchers tested biofilter systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from old landfills, finding the radial design outperformed the vertical design in methane oxidation rates. The technology could significantly mitigate global warming impacts.
A four-year project aims to test CO2 injection methods and enhance coalbed methane recovery. The research is part of a larger DOE effort to develop safe and environmentally secure carbon dioxide storage practices.
Researchers discovered a bacterial species in Australian Tammar wallaby gut that keeps methane emissions low, suggesting a potential new strategy to reduce livestock methane. The bacteria produce succinate as a main end product of fermentation, unlike methane-producing microbes.
Researchers have pinned down the timing of the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), an ancient global warming event that occurred around 56 million years ago. The study suggests that the event was triggered by a different mechanism, possibly related to volcanism, rather than cyclic variations in Earth's orbit.
Researchers found that ancient global warming, known as the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), saw slower rate of carbon emissions compared to current levels. The study suggests that humankind's carbon footprint may be accelerating modern climate change.
Researchers have found a link between methane production and levels of archaeol in the faeces of cows, sheep, and deer, offering a potential solution to quantify animal methane contributions. The discovery could enable more accurate assessments of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Research from North Carolina State University shows biodegradable products break down quickly, releasing potent greenhouse gas methane. The study suggests slower degradation is more environmentally friendly.
A recent study published in Science argues against a widely publicized conclusion that bacteria consumed Deepwater Horizon methane, casting doubt on the attribution of low oxygen zones to methane oxidation. The researchers highlight uncertainties in methane discharge and oxygen depletion data, as well as limitations in the model used b...
Research suggests that implementing landfill gas-recovery projects quickly can maximize methane gas retrieval from organic waste. Landfill gas (LFG) has the potential to be used as an alternative fuel, with half the caloric value of natural gas.
A Caltech-led team has debunked a long-held theory about the end of the Marinoan ice age, also known as the "Snowball Earth" ice age. The team found that rocks used as key geologic evidence were formed deep within Earth millions of years after the ice age ended
Scientists at Indiana University will study methane production in Arctic environments to help NASA detect carbon-based life on Mars and other celestial bodies. The three-year project aims to understand the conditions that support life on Earth and how they compare to those found elsewhere in the solar system.
A study by Duke University researchers has found high levels of leaked methane in well water collected near shale-gas drilling and hydrofracking sites. The contamination was observed primarily in Bradford and Susquehanna counties in Pennsylvania.
Researchers have developed a method to finely control methane combustion, producing ethylene at room temperature and formaldehyde at lower temperatures. The process uses gold dimer cations as catalysts, enabling the selective generation of different products.
Researchers used computational simulations to explore hydrocarbon formation from methane under high pressure and temperature conditions. They found that hydrocarbons with multiple carbon atoms can form from methane at temperatures greater than 1,500 K and pressures 50,000 times those at the Earth's surface.
A new study by Cornell University researchers finds that shale gas contributes significantly to global warming due to high methane emissions. The study's findings challenge the logic of using shale gas as a bridging fuel to reduce global warming.
A new study from North Carolina State University has identified a specific microbe that is the key to methane production in landfills. This anaerobic bacterium, Methanosarcina barkeri, consumes acids and increases pH levels, making other areas habitable for more methanogens.
Research reveals northern peatlands do not fully account for the initial 10,000-year-old methane increase, with tropical wetlands instead being a likely driver. Northern peatlands still play a crucial carbon-capture role but also emit significant amounts of methane.
Researchers developed a non-invasive method to measure methane release from cattle, accounting for up to 77% of emissions at a single point in a paddock. The technique uses open-path lasers and global positioning devices to track animal movements and wind speed.
Cornell scientists studied brewery bioreactor sludge, identifying unique microbial communities and their resilient populations. They hope to use this knowledge to shape these communities for producing carboxylates, a precursor to fuels.
Researchers found up to 500,000 tons of gaseous hydrocarbons emitted into the deep ocean during the Deepwater Horizon oil discharge, leading to small-scale zones of oxygen depletion. The study highlights the difficulty in separating gas-induced oxygen depletion from that due to liquid hydrocarbons.
Researchers using NASA's Cassini spacecraft have discovered thin, wispy clouds of ice particles similar to Earth's cirrus clouds on Titan's atmosphere. These clouds provide valuable insights into the workings of Titan's atmosphere and its one-way cycle that delivers hydrocarbons to the ground.
A new study suggests that freshwater methane emissions impact the global balance of greenhouse gases, with a potential 25% change in net absorption rates. The research highlights the importance of including inland waters in carbon budgets, as they are more active in carbon processing than seas or land surfaces.
Researchers found that global levels of hydroxyl radical, a critical player in atmospheric chemistry, are stable and vary by only a few percent every year. This discovery improves confidence in projecting the future of Earth's atmosphere and reduces concerns about human-caused or natural changes.
Scientists report that household sewage has nearly 20% more energy potential than previously estimated, offering a new avenue for extracting methane, hydrogen, and other fuels from wastewater. The discovery could transform treatment facilities into energy sources, reducing their energy drain.
Researchers have successfully created a metal-methane hybrid molecule by inserting metal atoms into methane gas molecules, potentially advancing industrial hydrocarbon chemistry. This discovery could lead to the creation of more complex and valuable products from simple compounds like methane.