Tag Archives: methane

2020 Methane Spike: How COVID-19 Lockdowns Reduced Pollution Levels

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Environmental Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns

2020 Lockdowns Led to Reduced Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Transport

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The reduction in pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown has caused significant chemical changes in the atmosphere, leading to a concerning rise in methane concentrations that could greatly affect future climate change.

Methane, which remains in the atmosphere for only about a decade, has a much higher warming potential than CO2. Its levels have been rising since the 1980s, mainly due to emissions from fossil fuel production. In recent decades, increased microorganisms breaking down organic matter in wetlands, agriculture, and landfills have further amplified these emissions.

From 2020 to 2022, the atmospheric methane surge unexpectedly doubled from approximately 20 million tons per year to roughly 40 million tons annually, reverting to about 20 million tons in 2023. A recent study indicates that this spike is largely attributed to a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from vehicles, aviation, and shipping during the lockdown.

NOx compounds catalyze atmospheric reactions that produce hydroxyl radicals (OH), key for breaking down methane. Hence, a decline in NOx typically results in enhanced methane persistence.

According to Matthew Johnson from the University of Copenhagen, “Reducing catalyst emissions leads to an increased methane pollution, akin to a hangover from our fossil fuel dependency.”

Prior research by Professors at Peking University indicated that the methane spike in 2020 was largely due to a decline in hydroxyl radicals and an increase in emissions from wetlands. Surprisingly, methane growth rates continued to rise in 2021 and 2022, despite the global economy’s recovery.

While hydroxyl radicals are too short-lived for direct measurement, satellite data can detect the gases that produce them. The recent study modeled both terrestrial methane sources and atmospheric hydroxyl radical sinks, linking their data with measured methane concentrations.

It discovered that the decline in hydroxyl radicals during 2020-21 and their recovery in 2022-23 accounted for 83% of the variations in methane growth rates. Continued low aviation emissions in 2021, coupled with the slow recovery of the transportation sector, contributed to these findings.

The increase in methane emissions from wetlands and inland waters accounted for the remaining spike. The La Niña climate phase boosted precipitation in Central Africa, expanding wetlands and generating more methane. Additionally, worsening weather in South and Southeast Asia increased methane emissions from rice fields, while rising temperatures accelerated methane emissions from Arctic wetlands.

As countries like China and India move toward electrification, the reduction in NOx pollution could further escalate methane growth, warns Penn.

“Improved air quality will likely mean decreasing methane absorption in the atmosphere,” he states, underscoring the urgent need for reducing human-caused emissions.

Disparities exist within climate models; some predict a decline in hydroxyl radicals, while others foresee an increase. Difficulties in measuring hydroxyl concentrations may also cast uncertainty over this study’s results.

Echoing this sentiment, Paul Palmer from the University of Edinburgh expressed surprise at the significance of hydroxyl radical changes compared to emission fluctuations. “If validated, this findings necessitate a reevaluation of factors influencing hydroxyl radicals in the global troposphere.”

Attributing changes to hydroxyl radicals might underestimate the actual variations in methane emissions.

Regardless, methane emissions from wetlands are set to escalate due to global warming, increasing precipitation, and microbial activity. To mitigate climate change, urgent human intervention is essential.

The new research highlighted by Ewan Nisbet from Royal Holloway, University of London, and Martin Manning from Victoria University in Wellington emphasizes that nations like China and India have substantial opportunities to capture methane from coal mines, landfills, and wastewater treatment facilities. Global oil and gas production continues to lose significant amounts of methane as well.

“We need urgent action; the methane emissions situation is becoming increasingly critical,” Johnson concluded. “Current trends are reflecting the alarming increase in methane emissions driven by climate change.”

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  • Climate Change/
  • Air Pollution

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb Discovers Methane Gas on the Dwarf Planet Makemake

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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered evidence of gaseous methane on the remote dwarf planet Macemeiki. This finding is detailed in a paper published in the Astrophysics Journal Letter. This discovery challenges the conventional perception of Makemake as a stable, frozen entity. Following Pltune, where gas presence was confirmed, it is now only the second Transneptune object to display this characteristic.

Protopapa et al. Methane gas was detected with Makemake using Webb observations (white). A sharp radiation peak near 3.3 microns reveals methane in the gas phase on the surface of Makemake. The continuum model (CYAN) is overlaid for comparison. An observable spectrum above the continuum indicates a gas emission peak. Image credit: S. Protopapa/I. Wong/SWRI/STSCI/NASA/ESA/CSA/WEBB.

Makemake, also referred to as FY9 and (136472), was identified in 2005 by a team of astronomers at the California Institute of Technology, led by Mike Brown.

This planet of War is situated in a region beyond Neptune, home to a small solar system.

Its radius measures approximately 715 km (444 miles), making it a dimmer and slightly smaller body than Pluto.

It takes around 305 Earth years for this dwarf planet to complete one orbit around the Sun.

Previously observed stellar occultations indicated that Makemake likely lacked a significant global atmosphere, although thin atmospheres could not be completely dismissed.

Meanwhile, infrared observations suggested mysterious thermal anomalies and peculiar characteristics of its methane ice, hinting at the possibility of local hotspots and potential outgassing on its surface.

“Makemake is one of the largest and brightest icy worlds in the outer solar system, with its surface predominantly comprised of frozen methane,” stated Dr. Sylvia Protopapa, an astronomer at the Southwest Institute.

“Webb has revealed that methane is also present in the gas phase above the surface, making Makemake an even more intriguing subject of study.”

“This indicates that Makemake is not an inert remnant of the outer solar system; rather, it is a dynamic body where methane ice is actively evolving.”

The detected methane spectral emission is interpreted as solar absorbing fluorescence, which occurs when sunlight is re-emitted after being absorbed by methane molecules.

The research team posited that this could either indicate a tenuous atmosphere in equilibrium with surface ice, akin to Pluto, or more transient activities such as comet-like sublimation or cryovolcanic processes.

Both scenarios are plausible and align with current data, given the signal-to-noise ratios and limited spectral resolution.

“The inclination to connect Makemake’s various spectra with thermal anomalies is compelling, but identifying mechanisms that enable volatile activities remains essential to interpreting these observations cohesively.”

“Future Webb observations at higher spectral resolutions will aid in determining whether methane originates from thin atmospheres or outgassing processes like plumes.”

“This discovery opens up the possibility that Makemake has a very thin atmosphere supported by methane sublimation,” noted Dr. Emmanuel Lelouch, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory.

“Our best model estimates a surface pressure around 40 K (minus 233 degrees Celsius) and about 10 picobars, which is a hundred billion times less than Earth’s atmospheric pressure, indicating a dilute surface pressure about ten billion times that of Pluto.”

“If this hypothesis is validated, Makemake will join a select group of outer solar system bodies where surface mass exchanges are still actively occurring today.”

“Another scenario proposes that methane is being expelled in plume-like eruptions,” Dr. Protopapa added.

“In this case, our model indicates that methane may be released at a rate of several hundred kilograms per second, comparable to the intense water plumes seen on Enceladus, Saturn’s moon, and significantly larger than the faint steam observed on Ceres.”

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Silvia Protopapa et al. 2025. JWST detection of hydrocarbon ice and methane gas on Makemake. apjl in press; Arxiv: 2509.06772

Source: www.sci.news

Elon Musk’s Xai Secures Approval for Methane Gas Generator in Tennessee

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Elon Musk’s AI venture, Xai, has received authorization to use methane gas generators at a significant data center located in Memphis, Tennessee. The county health department approved permits for 15 generators on Wednesday, a decision that has ignited protests from local communities and environmental advocates who argue that the generators will pollute the area.

“Our local officials are meant to safeguard our right to clean air, yet we are witnessing their failures,” stated Keshaun Pearson, the director of the Memphis community environmental nonprofit.

Xai established a sizable data center in Memphis about a year ago and introduced several portable methane gas generators to address the facility’s high energy demands. Although Xai lacked permissions for these generators, they seem to have exploited a loophole allowing the turbines to operate unless stationed at the same site for over 364 days.

In January, Xai sought approval for 15 generators. After extensive public meetings and community protests, the Shelby County Health Department approved the request. Satellite images provided to the Guardian by the Southern Environmental Law Center, a reputable nonprofit, reveal that at least 24 turbines remain operational at the Xai facility as of Tuesday.

“Xai welcomes the decision announced today,” said a company spokesperson in a statement. “Our on-site power generation utilizes state-of-the-art emission control technology, making this facility one of the cleanest in the nation.”

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Environmental organizations question the actual emissions from Xai’s electricity usage. Research by the Southern Environmental Law Center indicates that these turbines could emit thousands of tons of harmful nitrogen oxides and toxic substances like formaldehyde.

“The decision to issue air permits to Xai for contaminated gas turbines dismisses the opinions of countless Memphians who opposed this permit,” remarked Amanda Garcia, a senior lawyer at the Southern Environmental Law Center. She noted that the health department is permitting another contaminant to set up operations in an already burdened community without adequate safety measures.

Situated in an industrial area of Memphis, Xai is surrounded by neighborhoods that have long struggled with pollution issues. This historically black community faces elevated rates of respiratory diseases and asthma and has a shorter lifespan compared to other regions of the city. Studies indicate that these areas show a cancer risk four times higher than the national average.

The pollution from Xai’s operations, particularly affecting nearby black neighborhoods, has drawn attention from civil rights groups like the NAACP, which has filed a lawsuit against the company. They allege that Xai is in breach of the Clean Air Act by unlawfully installing and operating a methane gas generator.

“The NAACP is hopeful that the 15 generators at Xai will enhance transparency and accountability regarding methane emissions, yet this decision overlooks the objections of the community. We remain committed to holding both Xai and the health department accountable,” they stated.

Source: www.theguardian.com

A Key Methane Monitoring Satellite Fails in Orbit

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Artist’s rendering of the MethaneSAT satellite

Environmental Defense Fund/NASA

The MethaneSAT satellite, which was anticipated to revolutionize tracking methane emissions, has experienced a loss of contact less than a year and a half after its launch.

MethaneSAT stated that it “probably cannot recover.” A statement from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the non-profit managing the satellite, confirmed this loss as a significant setback in efforts to monitor and mitigate methane emissions, which are responsible for a third of the anthropogenic increase in global temperatures.

Upon its launch in March 2024, MethaneSAT contributed to a growing constellation of satellites aimed at detecting invisible methane emissions from principal sources like oil and gas facilities, livestock operations, landfills, and wetlands. While several satellites focus on specific emissions, MethaneSAT is uniquely equipped to assess methane concentrations on a broader scale, making it particularly effective in identifying emissions from fossil fuel extraction.

This capability was designed for estimating methane emissions in well-known fossil fuel production areas, such as the Permian Basin in the southwestern United States, as well as aiding efforts to identify and contain significant sources of potent greenhouse gases.

“That’s a considerable loss,” commented Jason McKeever from Ghgsat, a Canadian company that intended to utilize MethaneSAT data for strategic guidance on satellite deployment. “MethaneSAT was uniquely positioned in its designated mid-orbit.”

The satellite, which cost nearly $100 million to develop and launch, began its data collection in June 2024 and produced its first detection of methane in the oil and gas basin by November 2024. Researchers were exploring automation for data processing; the satellite, which orbits the Earth 15 times a day, promised near real-time emissions data.

“We had just begun a routine of releasing data every two weeks,” stated John Coifman of the Environmental Defense Fund. “The data produced by the satellites was incredibly valuable.”

According to an EDF announcement, mission operations lost communication with the satellite on June 20th. “After exploring all avenues to reestablish contact, we regret to inform that the satellite has lost power,” the statement read.

The MethaneSAT team is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, they continue to disseminate the data collected prior to the loss of power, alongside the algorithms developed for analysis.

“We are considering various options,” Coifman remarked, indicating that reactivating another satellite remains a possibility.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Sea Spider Farm: Harnessing Bacteria for Methane Consumption

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The spider of the genus Celico Sura

Biance Dalbo

Spider-like organisms dwelling near methane seepage seem to infiltrate the seabed, consuming microbes within their bodies that oxidize energy-dense gas. This discovery broadens the understanding of entities that rely on symbiotic associations with microorganisms in these alien settings.

Shana Goffredi from Occidental College, California, along with her team, has investigated marine arthropods named for their resemblance to ahinides, which thrive near three distinct methane seeps in the Pacific Ocean. They previously identified three new species from the sea spider genus Celico Sura, noted to be plentiful exclusively near these gas seepages.

In contrast, other sea spider species, which do not inhabit methane seep regions, primarily feed on various invertebrates. However, researchers have found that these newly identified sea spiders primarily acquire nutrition by ingesting a specific range of bacterial species residing in their bodies. These bacteria are capable of converting methane and methanol from the seepage into energy, something the sea spiders alone would not access.

Scientists observed that bacteria remained confined to the spiders’ exoskeletons, resembling “microbial fur coats,” and formed clusters that Goffredi describes as “volcanic-like.” The bacterial layer exhibited patterns resembling marks from a lawnmower, indicative of feeding by the spider’s robust “lips” and three tiny teeth.

To confirm that ocean spiders were actually consuming the bacteria, researchers employed radioactive labeling techniques to monitor the assimilation of methane carbon by laboratory sea spiders. “I observed methane being absorbed into the microorganisms on the spider’s surface, and subsequently traced carbon molecules migrating into the spider’s tissues,” Goffredi explains.

Researchers believe that ocean spiders do not consume all microorganisms growing on their exoskeletons. The species inhabiting the exoskeleton differ from those typically found in their surroundings, indicating a selection process is at play, Goffredi remarks. “The spiders are clearly cultivating and nurturing a unique microbial community.”

Sea spiders are not the first to cultivate microorganisms for chemical energy. “With every observation of these ecosystems near methane seeps, this phenomenon becomes increasingly evident,” notes Eric Cordes from Temple University, Pennsylvania. He previously collaborated with Goffredi on related studies, revealing a similar symbiosis in tube worms. The rich biodiversity near methane seepage is sustained not by solar energy but rather through methane and other chemicals. “That’s truly remarkable,” he remarks.

Cordes emphasizes that bacteria might also be transported along the surface of sea spiders. Unlike livestock on a farm, they gain superior protection and access to pastures. For instance, if methane seepage shifts to another area of the seabed, sea spiders could transfer bacteria to new locales. “Sea spiders maintain these organisms in an ideal habitat,” he adds.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Microorganisms Emitting Methane Stabilize the Seabed

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Methane penetration refers to a submersible area around the globe where the natural gas you rely on for cooking and heating is known as methane that leaks from the seabed. These penetrations are commonly found in transitional regions where land meets the ocean, known as the continental margin. Methane originates from and is produced by organic matter, including dead plants and animals, that have been buried under layers of sediment for millions of years. Through pressure and heat from within the Earth, this organic matter can decompose into methane, which escapes from the seabed into the ocean.

This methane also serves as an energy source for various microscopic organisms, allowing it to fuel your stove. The microorganisms known as methanogenic bacteria or methanotrophs utilize methane as food through a process referred to as aerobic methane oxidation. These bacteria employ oxygen to extract energy from methane gas, akin to how humans extract energy from food, producing carbon dioxide and water as by-products.

When carbon dioxide interacts with water, it creates a weak acid known as carbonic acid. Carboxylic acids can dissolve calcium carbonate minerals that make up shells in organisms like corals, mussels, and clams. While methanotrophs produce carbon dioxide as waste, scientists remain uncertain about its role in corroding calcium carbonate in marine environments. Research has been conducted in laboratories, but not in natural marine settings until now.

A team of researchers from Germany investigated the corrosion of calcium carbonate associated with active methane along the continental margin off the west coast of Gabon, Congo, and Angola in Africa. They deployed limestone cubes measuring 10 cm (around 4 inches) high and 4 cm (approximately 4 inches) wide above the seabed near active methane sites, as well as on a mussel bed. The cubes were left on the seabed for 2.5 years before being retrieved.

Upon recovery, the researchers noted that cubes situated near the methane leak exhibited rough surfaces. Microscopic examination revealed small holes, termed microborings, likely created by microorganisms. In contrast, cubes placed farther from the methane leak showed no signs of such features. This led researchers to interpret these differences as evidence that microorganisms are responsible for the dissolution of limestone in areas of methane penetration.

To further analyze the role of methanotrophs in limestone dissolution, the team extracted DNA from microbial communities inhabiting the limestone cubes. They identified DNA from members of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria, particularly from the uncultured HYD24-01 clade. Previous studies have detected these microorganisms in other methane-rich locations, suggesting their potential for corroding limestone.

To corroborate their findings, the researchers also examined lipid molecules known as lipid biomarkers from microorganisms at the site. Scientists utilize lipid biomarkers to identify bacterial species and their energy sources. They discovered that the lipid biomarkers collected from the seabed sites matched the DNA results. Notably, they found an abundance of lipids from methanotrophs called NC16:1Ω7 among the limestone cubes. This led them to conclude that methanotrophs prominently represented the microbial communities linked to the microborings in the limestone.

The research team proposed that their findings provide concrete evidence that methane-consuming bacteria dissolve calcium carbonate rocks in areas of marine methane. They suggested that these bacteria acidify their environment by releasing carbon dioxide during methane oxidation. The released carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid, which decreases pH levels, dissolves limestone, and contributes to ocean acidification. They advocated for future research to delve into the specific mechanisms that these microorganisms utilize and to quantify the extent of microbial erosion’s contribution to marine acidification.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Weather Update from Titan, Saturn’s Moon: Partly Cloudy with Intermittent Methane Rain

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With data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the Keck II telescope, astronomers have found signs of cloud convection in Titan’s northern hemisphere. The majority of Titan’s lakes and oceans are situated in this region, replenished by sporadic rains of methane and ethane. Webb has also identified essential carbon-containing molecules that offer insight into Titan’s intricate atmospheric chemical processes.

These Titan images taken by Webb on July 11, 2023 show the Keck II telescope on July 14, 2023 (lower row), showing methane clouds (white arrows) appearing at various altitudes in Titan’s northern hemisphere. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STSCI/KECK Observatory.

Titan is a fascinating world enveloped in a yellowish smog haze. Its atmosphere, primarily composed of nitrogen, experiences weather patterns similar to those on Earth, such as clouds and rain.

In contrast to Earth, where weather is influenced by the evaporation and condensation of water, Titan’s chilly environment features a methane cycle.

Methane evaporates from the surface, rising into the atmosphere to condense into clouds.

Occasionally, icy particles fall to solid surfaces as a form of cold, oily rain.

“The Goddard Space Flight Center involves astronomers,” stated Dr. Connn Nixon, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Utilizing both Webb and Keck II telescopes, Dr. Nixon and his team observed Titan in November 2022 and July 2023.

These observations revealed cloud formations in the northern and high northern latitudes of Titan, coinciding with its current summer, and indicated that these clouds were gradually rising to higher altitudes.

Previous research identified cloud convection in southern latitudes, marking the first evidence of similar convection in the northern hemisphere.

This finding is crucial, as most of Titan’s lakes and oceans are located in the northern hemisphere, making evaporation from these bodies of water a primary source for methane.

On Earth, the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, extends to about 12 km in altitude.

However, due to Titan’s low gravity, its troposphere stretches to approximately 45 km.

By utilizing various infrared filters, Webb and Keck explored different atmospheric depths on Titan, enabling astronomers to estimate cloud altitudes.

Researchers noted that clouds seemed to migrate to higher altitudes over a few days, although direct observation of precipitation remains elusive.

“Webb’s observation occurred at the end of Titan’s summer, a season we couldn’t monitor during the NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens mission,” remarked ESA researcher Dr. Thomas Cornet.

“Combined with ground-based observations, Webb is providing us with valuable new insights into Titan’s atmosphere. This ESA mission could explore the Saturn system in greater detail in the future.”

Titan is of significant astrobiological interest due to its intricate organic (carbon-containing) chemistry, despite its frigid temperatures of minus 180 degrees Celsius.

Organic molecules are the building blocks of life on Earth, and studying them in an environment like Titan may help scientists uncover the processes that contributed to the emergence of life on our planet.

Methane serves as a fundamental component driving much of Titan’s chemistry.

In Titan’s atmosphere, methane is broken down by sunlight or energetic electrons from Saturn’s magnetosphere, leading to the synthesis of ethane-like substances alongside more complex carbon-containing molecules.

The data from Webb provided a crucial missing piece for comprehending these chemical processes: the definitive detection of methyl radicals (CH)3, which form when methane breaks apart.

Identifying this compound signifies that scientists can now observe chemical reactions occurring on Titan for the first time, not just the initial ingredients or the end products.

“We are very enthusiastic about this world,” said Dr. Stephanie Millam, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

This hydrocarbon chemistry will have lasting implications for Titan’s future.

As methane decomposes in the upper atmosphere, some of it recombines to form other molecules, eventually reaching Titan’s surface in one chemical form or another, while some hydrogen escapes into space.

As a result, methane reserves will diminish over time unless there is a source to replenish them.

A similar phenomenon has occurred on Mars, where water molecules were broken down, and the resulting hydrogen was lost to space, culminating in the arid desert planet we observe today.

“In Titan, methane is continuously consumable,” Dr. Nixon explained.

“It could be constantly replenished from the crust and interior for billions of years.”

“If not, eventually it will all disappear, leaving Titan as a desolate landscape of dust and dunes.”

These findings were published in the journal Natural Astronomy.

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Kanixon et al. The atmosphere of Titan in late northern summer from JWST and Keck’s observations. Nature Astronomy Published online on May 14th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02537-3

Source: www.sci.news

Carrarant cuts methane emissions by 70%, lowering planet-warming effects

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Rice fields are the main sources of methane discharge

Thirawatana Phaisalratana/Istock Phot O/Getty Images

A new type of rice created by a simple cross could reduce the discharge of methane crops, which are strong greenhouse gases, in almost three -quarters.

Cultivation of rice is about 12 % of the artificial release of methane. Methane is a gas with a global warming effect 25 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide.

The emissions come from the soil microorganisms of the flooded paddy fields cultivated by rice. These organisms decompose chemicals known as roots that are released by plants, not only produce nutrients that can be used by plants, but also make methane in the process.

For more information about factors that affect methane production from the roots of rice, Anna Schnella Swedish University of Agriculture Science and her colleagues cultivated two US lines in the laboratory. It is a Japanese variety called Nippon Bear with average methane emissions, and a genetic modification with a small methane emission called SUSIBA2.

SUSIBA2 has reduced the number of roots that are known to be the more important driver of methane emission than Nippon Bear. However, when both strains are treated with oxantel, which is a chemical substance that inhibits the decomposition of hemalate by bacteria, the Susiba2 shares still decrease the methane. This means that there must be another factor that causes different varieties.

SUSIBA2 crops have been found to secrete high -level ethanol.

Later, the team rely on traditional breeding techniques to generate new US stocks by passing high -yielded elite varieties, along with Heidin varieties, a stock that produces low fumalate and high ethanol.

In the two -year outdoor exam in China, the new strain has generated more than 8 tons of crops per hectar, but compared to the world average of more than 4 tons, a methane is 70 % less than the breeded elite varieties. It was issued. 。

Johannes Le Curtr At New Southwales, Sydney, Australia, this study is an example of a well -performed research on the culprit behind the greenhouse gas emissions of crops.

“The core point of this study is to not use hardcore genetic engineering, editing technology, and transgenic approaches,” Le Coutre says. “They use traditional mating to create a new rice line that lowers methane synthesis.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists uncover innovative method to transform carbon dioxide into methane

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A new class of atomically dispersed nickel catalysts directly converts trapped carbon dioxide (CO)2 to methane (CH4), according to Tomaz Neves García, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at The Ohio State University, and colleagues.

Direct electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide scavenging species, namely carbamates and (bi)carbonates, may be promising for carbon dioxide capture and conversion from point sources. Image credit: Neves Garcia others., doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c09744.

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas responsible for most of global warming and is produced by power plants, factories, and various forms of transportation.

Typical carbon capture systems, aimed at reducing the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by separating carbon dioxide from other gases and converting it into useful products. .

However, the operation of these systems requires large amounts of energy, making this process difficult to implement on an industrial scale.

“Now we have found a way to save much of this precious energy by using a special nickel-based catalyst to convert the captured carbon dioxide directly into methane,” said Dr. Neves Garcia.

By using nickel atoms placed on a charged surface, Dr. Neves-Garcia and his co-authors were able to convert carbamates, a scavenging form of carbon dioxide, directly into methane.

They discovered that nickel atoms, an inexpensive and widely available catalyst, were very good at this transformation.

“We are producing high-energy fuels from low-energy molecules,” said Dr. Neves Garcia.

“What's so interesting about this is that while other companies are capturing, capturing and converting carbon in stages, we're saving energy by doing these steps simultaneously. is.”

Most importantly, streamlining the carbon capture process will help scientists reshape what they know about the carbon cycle and inform more complex strategies for faster and more efficient climate mitigation technologies. This is an important step to establish.

“We need to focus on minimizing the energy spent on carbon capture and conversion as much as possible,” said Dr. Neves García.

“So instead of performing all the capture and conversion steps separately, we can integrate it into one step and avoid wasted energy processes.”

“Many carbon capture methods are still in their infancy, but this is a promising field as researchers from a variety of disciplines are working on improvements.”

“Using renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide into fuel has the potential to end the carbon cycle.”

“For example, when methane is burned to produce energy, it emits carbon dioxide, which can be captured and converted back into methane to support a continuous energy production cycle without adding to the planet's global warming burden. It may be possible.”

The study also represents the first time researchers have discovered that carbamates can be converted to methane using electrochemistry.

Many attempts have been made to convert the captured carbon dioxide into useful products, but so far most researchers have only shown the ability to produce carbon monoxide.

“Methane can be a very interesting product, but most importantly it opens the way to developing further processes to convert the captured carbon dioxide into other products” Neves Garcia said the doctor.

of the team work Published in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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tomas neves garcia others. 2024. Integrated capture and conversion of carbon dioxide to methane with amines over single-atom nickel catalysts. J.Am. Chemistry. society 146 (46): 31633-31646;doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c09744

Source: www.sci.news

COP29: Satellite detects methane leaks but “super emitters” fail to address issue

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Methane plume at least 4.8 kilometers long pours into the atmosphere south of Tehran, Iran

NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology

The world now has more ways than ever to discover invisible methane emissions, which are so far responsible for a third of global warming. But methane “super emitters” take little action even when warned that they are leaking large amounts of the powerful greenhouse gas, according to a report released at the COP29 climate summit.

“We’re not seeing the transparency and urgency that we need,” he says. Manfredi Caltagirone director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, recently launched a system that uses satellite data to alert methane emitters of leaks.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas to tackle after carbon dioxide, and more countries are pledging to reduce methane emissions to avoid short-term warming. At last year’s COP28 climate summit, many of the world’s largest oil and gas companies also pledged to “elimate” methane emissions from their operations.

Today, more and more satellites are beginning to detect methane leaks from the biggest sources of methane emissions, such as oil and gas infrastructure, coal mines, landfills, and agriculture. That data is critical to holding emitters accountable, he says. mark brownstein at the Environmental Defense Fund, an environmental advocacy group that recently launched its own methane sensing satellite. “But data alone won’t solve the problem,” he says.

The first year of the UN’s Methane Alert System shows a huge gap between data and action. Over the past year, this program has 1225 alerts issued When we saw plumes of methane from oil and gas infrastructure large enough to be detected from space, we reported them to governments and companies. To date, emitters have taken steps to control these leaks only 15 times, reporting a response rate of about 1 percent.

There are many possible reasons for this, Caltagirone says. Although emissions from oil and gas infrastructure are widely considered to be the easiest to deal with, emitters may lack the technical or financial resources and some methane sources may be difficult to shut down. there is. “It’s plumbing. It’s not rocket science,” he says.

Another explanation may be that emitters are not yet accustomed to the new alarm system. However, other methane monitoring devices have reported similar lack of response. “Our success rate is not that good,” he says Jean-François Gauthier GHGSat is a Canadian company that has been issuing similar satellite alerts for many years. “About 2 or 3 percent.”

Methane super emitter plume detected in 2021

ESA/SRON

There are also some success stories. For example, the United Nations issued several warnings this year to the Algerian government about a source of methane that has been leaking continuously since at least 1999, and whose global warming impact is equivalent to driving 500,000 cars a year. It is said to be equivalent. By October, satellite data showed it had disappeared.

But the big picture shows that monitoring is not yet leading to emissions reductions. “Simply showing a plume of methane is not enough to take action,” he says. rob jackson at Stanford University in California. The central problem, he sees, is that satellites rarely reveal who owns leaky pipelines or methane-emitting wells, making accountability difficult.

Methane is a major topic of discussion at the COP29 conference currently being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. a summit At a meeting on non-CO2 greenhouse gases convened by the United States and China this week, each country announced several measures on methane emissions. That includes a U.S. fee on methane for oil and gas emitters, a rule many expect the incoming Trump administration to roll back.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Methane Ocean on Saturn’s Moon Titan is Causing Coastal Erosion

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Titan's liquid hydrocarbon ocean may have waves

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/University of Idaho

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has rocky coastlines around its methane seas and lakes that appear to have been carved out by waves, and a NASA mission launching in 2028 may be able to get a closer look.

Titan is the only body in the solar system other than Earth that has liquid on its surface. It has lakes and oceans made of hydrocarbons such as liquid methane, ethane, and other organic molecules. Scientists think that winds in Titan's thick, nitrogen-rich atmosphere drive the waves in these lakes, but this has never been observed directly because Titan's atmosphere is too hazy to see through.

now, Rose Palermo Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey in Florida and their colleagues found that the shape of Titan's coastline is best explained by the presence of waves that have eroded the ocean surface over eons.

Palermo and his team looked at the shorelines around Titan's largest oceans and lakes, including Kraken Mare and Ligeia Mare, and compared them to coastlines on Earth with known origins, such as Lake Rotoef in New Zealand, which initially formed by floods and later was eroded by waves. The team then created different simulations of Titan's oceans, including those in which the shores were eroded by waves or by dissolving their edges.

Photographed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, Ligeia Mare on Saturn's moon Titan has a variety of edges that appear to have been carved by waves.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell

The researchers found that images of Titan's coastline, best depicted by wave simulations, resemble Earth's wave-eroded coastlines.

“It's still tentative, but I'm very excited about it.” Ingo Muller-Vodarg The Imperial College London researchers say that although the study did not observe waves themselves, it is very strong evidence that waves exist. Dune-like structures.

The only way to truly verify that waves exist is to send a spacecraft to the surface, like NASA's Dragonfly drone mission, scheduled to launch in 2028, Mueller-Vaudergues said.

Studying Titan's coastlines may also help us understand how the first coasts on Earth formed, Palermo says: “Titan is a unique laboratory for studying coastal processes because it is not influenced by humans or plants. It's a place where we can study coasts only as physical processes.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cool brown dwarf emits methane detected by Webb

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Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope detected methane emissions from the. CWISEP J193518.59-154620.3 (W1935 for short) is an isolated brown dwarf star with a temperature of about 482 K. Their findings also suggest that W1935 could produce auroras similar to those seen on our planet, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Artist's impression of the brown dwarf W1935. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/L. Hustak, STScI.

W1935 is located about 47 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.

This brown dwarf was co-discovered by Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science volunteer Dan Caselden and NASA's CatWISE team.

W1935's mass is not well known, but it is probably in the range of 6 to 35 times the mass of Jupiter.

After observing numerous brown dwarfs observed by Webb, Dr. Jackie Faherty Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History found W1935 to be similar, with one notable exception. It was emitting methane, which had never been seen before in brown dwarfs.

“Methane gas is expected to be present in giant planets and brown dwarfs, but we typically see it absorbing light rather than absorbing it,” Faherty said.

“At first we were confused by what we were seeing, but eventually it turned into pure excitement when it was discovered.”

Computer modeling provided another surprise. W1935 may have a temperature inversion, a phenomenon in which the atmosphere becomes warmer as altitude increases.

Temperature inversions easily occur in planets orbiting stars, but brown dwarfs are isolated and have no obvious external heat source.

“We were pleasantly shocked when the model clearly predicted a temperature inversion,” said Dr Ben Burningham, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire.

“But we also needed to figure out where that extra upper atmosphere heat was coming from.”

To find out, astronomers turned to our solar system. In particular, they focused on the study of Jupiter and Saturn. Both show methane release and temperature inversions.

Since the aurora is likely the cause of this feature on the solar system's giants, the researchers speculated that they had discovered the same phenomenon in W1935.

Planetary scientists know that one of the main drivers of Jupiter and Saturn's auroras are high-energy particles from the sun that interact with the planets' magnetic fields and atmospheres, heating the upper layers.

This is also the reason for the aurora borealis we see on Earth. Auroras are most unusual near the poles, so they are commonly referred to as aurora borealis or southern lights.

However, W1935 does not have a host star, so solar wind cannot contribute to the explanation.

There's another fascinating reason why auroras occur in our solar system.

Both Jupiter and Saturn have active moons that occasionally eject material into space, interacting with the planets and enhancing the auroral footprints of those worlds.

Jupiter's moon Io is the most volcanically active world in the solar system, spewing fountains of lava tens of miles high. Also, Saturn's moon Encereadus spews water vapor from geysers that freeze and boil as soon as they reach space.

Although more observations are needed, researchers speculate that one explanation for W1935's aurora may be an active moon that has yet to be discovered.

“Every time astronomers point an object at the Webb, new and surprising discoveries can occur,” Dr. Faherty said.

“When we started this project, we weren't concerned about methane emissions, but now that we know that methane emissions can exist and the explanations are very attractive, we're always paying attention. That's part of how science moves forward.”

a paper The survey results were published in a magazine Nature.

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JK Faherty other. 2024. Methane emission from cool brown dwarfs. Nature 628, 511-514; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07190-w

Source: www.sci.news

Google to reveal oil and gas methane leak detected from space

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Google and the Environmental Defense Fund on Wednesday announced a partnership to uncover the sources of climate-warming emissions from oil and gas operations that will be detected from space by a new satellite.

MethaneSAT is scheduled to launch next month and is one of several satellites being deployed to monitor methane emissions around the world to identify the main sources of the invisible but powerful greenhouse gas. There is one. The partnership is led by EDF, the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University and others.

Data from the satellite will be available later this year, and Google Cloud will provide the computing power to process the information.

Google also announced that it will use artificial intelligence to map oil and gas infrastructure by identifying components such as oil tanks. MethaneSAT emissions data is overlaid with Google Maps to help you understand which types of oil and gas equipment are most likely to leak.

This information will be made available through Google Earth Engine, a geospatial analytics platform, later this year. Earth Engine is free to researchers, nonprofit organizations, and news organizations.

The satellite image above shows a map of points, correctly identified as oil well pads. Google used satellite and aerial imagery to apply AI to detect infrastructure components. Well pads are shown in yellow, oil pump jacks in red, and storage tanks in blue.
Google

“For energy companies, researchers, and the public sector, it's generally helpful to predict methane emissions in the most sensitive components,” Yael Maguire, Google's vice president of geographic sustainability, said on a call with reporters. “We believe this information is extremely valuable for mitigation efforts.”

The launch comes as governments crack down on short-lived sources of greenhouse gases and more than 50 major state-owned and independent oil and gas operators, from ExxonMobil to Saudi Aramco, pledge to reduce methane leakage to near zero at the COP28 climate change summit. This was done amid a promise to reduce the number of By the end of this decade.

The United States is one of the largest emitters of methane and has proposed enforcement measures to stop leaks from oil and gas operations. A new rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will allow the public to report large methane leaks to federal regulators if they have access to methane detection technology.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Valley Investors Achieve Unusual Goal in Battle Against Methane: Cow Burps

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What do iconic Valley investors Zachary Bogue and Chris Sacca have in common? They’re both trying to stop cows from burping methane. No, really. And Soccer Investments has just raised $20 million to do just that. What gives?

With the conclusion of COP28, the global conference on the climate crisis, methane is on the ClimateTech agenda for investors and startups.

Emissions from livestock are the main source of agricultural methane, accounting for about one-third of all methane. emissions, and most of them aren’t from the parts of the cow you’d expect. In fact, it is from cow burp.

When cows process their feed, they literally exhale methane gas as part of their rumination process, allowing them to digest grass and hay that other animals, including us, cannot.

And it’s these emissions that agritech and biotech companies are now starting to target. There is a lot of pressure to do so. In fact, six major companies in the dairy industry recently pledged The company plans to start disclosing its methane emissions, and other companies are expected to join the plan. And one of the bigger topics at his recent COP meeting was a promise to reduce methane emissions. is growing rapidly.

Methane gas is by far the worst of all greenhouse gases, and like methane it is much worse than CO2. trap more heat The amount per molecule in the atmosphere is greater than carbon dioxide.

This gas stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years, whereas carbon dioxide lasts for hundreds of years, but over 20 years it is about 80 times more heating than carbon dioxide, and over 100 years it is 27 times more heating. according to to the Expert Panel on Livestock Methane in 2023.

Its reduction is therefore considered key to fighting the climate crisis. In fact, there is even a satellite-based “Methane Alert and Response System” (MARS). announced by the United Nations last year.

And a major UN report says “urgent measures” are needed to reduce methane to keep global warming within limits. manageable limit.

British companies now think they can tackle this problem.

British biotech startup Mootral Raised $20 million in Series B funding round backed by Menlo Park-based climate investors king philanthropiesalongside existing investors Lowercarbon Capital (a climate VC started by Chris Sacca), Earthshot Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Third Derivative, Climactic, and Climate Capital.

In total, Mootral raised $48.9 million. This number corresponds to the $11.2 million seed round. Series A for $12.8 million (led by King Philanthropies, which invested $10 million). This Series B is worth $20 million. Family office investment by Thomas Hafner and Karin Boimer is $24.9 million.

Mootral said in a statement that it aims to scale up to feeding 300 million cows with its feed additives by 2033, with the potential to achieve up to 50 percent methane reductions by 2025. This is quite a claim.

“We aim to immediately and permanently reduce methane emissions, and this is happening on farms today,” Mootral founder and CEO Thomas Hafner said by phone. Ta.

“The next generation of products will need to be on the milligram scale. Our next generation will be even better. We aim to reduce it by up to 90%.”

Mootral also has a scheme called ‘CowCredits’ which allows farmers to access the carbon credit market when reducing their herd’s methane emissions. ClimatePartner, a company that funds climate change projects through carbon credits, has signed on to include his Mootral in its portfolio of options for Crent.

The company says its Enterix product (manufactured in Wales) has been tested on farms in the UK, and the results have been published in academic journals, including the Journal. Open Journal of Animal Science, Frontiers of microbiology, animal science journaland translational animal science.

So how does it work? Dairy cows produce about 500 liters of methane every day. 3.7 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Mootral says its current ruminant supplement can reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by up to 38 percent on commercial farms.

One of its competitors is CH4 Global It raised $29 million in its latest funding round. CH4 Global — backed by the aforementioned Zachary Bogue of DCVC — seaweed It is added to cattle feed to reduce methane emissions.

CH4 Global CEO Steve Mellor said in an email that the company is using “aquaculture” to address the problem. Global agricultural company to supply 9.5 million head of cattle is announced. Combining these two will result in approximately 80 million tons of CO2-e reductions. ”

He claims that CH4 Global’s line of feed additives (called Methane Tamer) contains Asparagopsis, which the company claims can reduce methane emissions from cows by as much as 90%. did.

The other player in that space is DSM, a Dutch multinational companyWhich recently It said it would monitor the environmental impact of foods containing animal protein.

In any case, it is clear that the climate tech sector is intersecting with agricultural technology in unexpected ways in the fight against the climate crisis.

Source: techcrunch.com