All methane articles
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NewsWastewater plants produce twice as much greenhouse gases as officially estimated
Wastewater plants emit about twice as much greenhouse gas as previously believed, according to a new study. Collectively sewer plants produced 1.9 times the nitrous oxide gas estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency and 2.4 times the methane.
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FeaturesBreathing alien air: the search for biosignatures on exoplanets
Among the most promising indicators of biogenic elements are volatile organic compounds produced by life forms. The detection of specific metabolites such as dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and related compounds may hint at extraterrestrial biology.
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NewsMicrobes hold the key to combating climate disaster, say scientists
Global microbiology organisations including Applied Microbiology International (AMI) have called for urgent action to put microbes at the heart of climate change mitigation, in a high-level panel discussion chaired by AMI Chief Executive, Dr Lucy Harper.
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NewsNew study shows biochar’s electrical properties can influence rice field methane emissions
A team of scientists has discovered that the ability of biochar to conduct electricity can significantly affect methane emissions from rice paddies, one of the largest sources of agricultural greenhouse gases worldwide.
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NewsScientists hack microbes to identify environmental sources of methane
A new paper reveals how the activity of one of the main microbial enzymes involved in producing methane affects the isotope composition used as a fingerprint of various environmental sources.
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NewsVicious cycle: How methane emissions from warming wetlands could exacerbate climate change
Warming in the Arctic is intensifying methane emissions, contributing to a vicious feedback loop that could accelerate climate change even more, according to a new study.
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NewsFruit and microbes boost biogas production and fermentation
Researchers have reported on a new recipe for improving biogas production from alfalfa. Adding fruit waste and an anaerobic microbe to the mix first leads to co-fermentation, then produces methane.
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NewsRestoring vegetation cover in Amazon's pasture areas can reduce methane emissions, study reveals
Proper pasture management in the Amazon, aimed at maintaining soil vegetation cover, can reduce methane emissions from livestock farming, according to a new study analyzing emissions and microorganisms in Amazonian soil.
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NewsGHG concentration and emissions vary seasonally and alongside human behaviors in estuaries
A new study suggests that industrial processes can be a major factor in the concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide in the the Pearl River Estuary and possibly other estuarine areas - but there are other influences.
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NewsClean air policies inadvertently boost wetland methane emissions by up to 34m tonnes
A new study suggests that the decline of global sulphur emissions as the result of clean air policies, coupled with the warming and fertilization effects of carbon dioxide emissions lifts a lid on wetland methane production, resulting in increased emissions.
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NewsMachinery behind bacterial nanowires discovered
Almost all living things breathe oxygen to eliminate the excess electrons produced when nutrients are converted into energy. However, most microbes that mitigate pollution and climate change don’t have access to oxygen. Instead, these bacteria—buried underground or living deep under oceans—have developed a way to eliminate electrons by “breathing minerals” ...
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NewsMicrobial oxidation in glacial rivers and lakes could help mitigate methane emissions
A new study suggests microbes in glacial rivers and lakes may play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that recent studies have shown emerging as glaciers melt in warming global temperatures.
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NewsUK needs to keep up momentum on cutting methane emissions, urges Lords Committee
Applied Microbiology International contributed to the House of Lords committee report that calls on the Government to keep up the momentum on cutting methane emissions at home, while using its scientific expertise to be more engaged in international leadership.
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NewsNew study reveals how microbes feed on iron
A new study reveals details about how one bacterial species corrodes iron in an extremely efficient way.
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NewsMicrobes: atmospheric methane increase during pandemic due primarily to wetland flooding
A new analysis of satellite data finds that the record surge in atmospheric methane emissions from 2020 to 2022 was driven by increased inundation and water storage in wetlands, combined with a slight decrease in atmospheric hydroxide (OH).
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NewsScientists reveal how bacteria in lakes fight climate change
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas frequently produced in the sea and in fresh water. Lakes in particular release large quantities of this climate-killer. Fortunately, however, there are microorganisms that counteract this: They are able to utilize methane to grow and generate energy, thus preventing it from being released into ...
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NewsResearchers find unexpectedly large methane source in overlooked landscape
Researchers reported that upland landscapes were releasing some of the highest methane emissions yet documented among northern terrestrial ecosystems. The research was sparked when a greenhouse gas began ballooning under lawns in Fairbanks.
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NewsTrees reveal climate surprise – bark microbes remove methane from the atmosphere
Tree bark surfaces play an important role in removing methane gas from the atmosphere, according to a new study.
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NewsRising sea levels could lead to more methane emitted from wetlands
A low-salinity Bay Area estuary ecosystem is producing higher-than-expected levels of methane.
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Long ReadsMethanotrophs: an emerging biotechnological workhorse in the bioproduction industry
Methane-consuming bacteria turn waste greenhouse gases into useful products. A win-win situation?