Can diamonds originate methane?
Turning one of the world's finest gems—diamonds—into one of the worst greenhouse gasses—methane—does not seem a great idea. Yet this happened through the work of a group of researchers from the Universities of Bologna and Edimburgh (UK), the.....»»
Curbside collection improves organic waste composting, reduces methane emissions
Most organic household waste ends up in landfills, where it generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting food and garden waste instead of sending it to landfills can significantly reduce methane emissions and help mitigate global warming......»»
Scientists hack weather satellite data to quantify methane leaks
Satellites sitting more than 22,200 miles above the Earth's surface have been capturing storms and weather data for decades. Now, scientists have essentially hacked the data coming back for another purpose: spotting methane emissions......»»
Methane: a powerful gas heating the planet
Climate talks often revolve around reducing the most dangerous greenhouse gas CO2......»»
SpaceX celebrates major progress on the third flight of Starship
Starship's third launch appeared flawless, but SpaceX has more work to do on recovery. Enlarge / SpaceX's Starship soars through the sky over South Texas, powered by 33 methane-burning Raptor engines. (credit: Stephen Clark/Ars T.....»»
Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023: IEA
Planet-heating methane released by the fossil fuel industry rose to near record highs in 2023 despite technology available to curb this pollution at virtually no cost, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday......»»
US energy industry methane emissions are triple what government thinks, study finds
American oil and natural gas wells, pipelines and compressors are spewing three times the amount of the potent heat-trapping gas methane as the government thinks, causing $9.3 billion in yearly climate damage, a new comprehensive study calculates......»»
Webb finds ethanol and other icy ingredients for new worlds
An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a variety of molecules, ranging from relatively simple ones like methane to complex compounds like acetic acid and ethanol, in early-stage protosta.....»»
AI analysis of satellite images shows 1990s USSR collapse increased methane emissions, despite lower oil, gas production
The collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991 yielded social, political and economic effects worldwide. Among them was a suspected role in slowing human-generated methane emissions. Methane had been rising steadily in the atmosphere until about 199.....»»
Saturn"s moon is a testing ground to gain a better understanding of the methane molecule
Titan is the second-largest moon in the solar system and the only one with a dense atmosphere. At the top of this atmosphere, rich in nitrogen and methane, the sun's radiation produces a great diversity of organic molecules, some of which we also fin.....»»
New deep-sea worm discovered at methane seep off Costa Rica
Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and other researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm living near a methane seep some 50 kilometers (30 miles) off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. R.....»»
Q&A: A cutting-edge methane monitor
After more than seven years of development, MethaneSAT recently launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. A collaboration between the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for As.....»»
Faster charging with diamonds
Diamond is known for its outstanding thermal conductivity. This makes the material ideal for cooling electronic components with high power densities, such as those used in processors, semiconductor lasers or electric vehicles......»»
Surprising methane discovery in Yukon glaciers: "Much more widespread than we thought"
Global melting is prying the lid off methane stocks, the extent of which we do not know. A young researcher from the University of Copenhagen has discovered high concentrations of the powerful greenhouse gas in meltwater from three Canadian mountain.....»»
Microbial viruses act as secret drivers of climate change, new study finds
In a new study, scientists have discovered that viruses that infect microbes contribute to climate change by playing a key role in cycling methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through the environment......»»
Diamonds are a chip"s best friend: Research determines spin-orbit effects on exciton complexes
Besides being "a girl's best friend," diamonds have broad industrial applications, such as in solid-state electronics. New technologies aim to produce high-purity synthetic crystals that become excellent semiconductors when doped with impurities as e.....»»
Lab-grown diamonds put natural gems under pressure
The glittering diamonds sparkle the same but there are key differences: mined natural gems are more than a billion years old, while laboratory-made rocks are new and cost less than half the price......»»
Study shows methane emissions from wetlands increase significantly over high latitudes
Wetlands are Earth's largest natural source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is about 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the atmosphere. A research team from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.....»»
Scientists find evidence of geothermal activity within icy dwarf planets
A team co-led by Southwest Research Institute found evidence for hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. Methane detected on their surfaces has the tell-tale signs of warm or ev.....»»
Google, Environmental Defense Fund will track methane emissions from space
Satellite data + Google Maps + AI should help figure out where methane is leaking. Enlarge / With color, high resolution. (credit: Google/EDF) When discussing climate change, attention generally focuses on our soaring ca.....»»
Study measures the psychological toll of wildfires
Wildfires in Southeast Asia significantly affect peoples' moods, especially if the fires originate outside a person's own country, according to a new study......»»