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.....»»
How semiconductor defects could boost quantum technology
In diamonds (and other semiconducting materials), defects are a quantum sensor's best friend. That's because defects, essentially a jostled arrangement of atoms, sometimes contain electrons with an angular momentum, or spin, that can store and proces.....»»
Biotrickling filter supports efficient hydrogen-methane conversion for biological biogas upgrading
Biological hydrogen-methane conversion refers to the production of methane through the action of microorganisms using hydrogen generated by electrolysis of water with residual power and carbon dioxide present in biogas. This approach promises to over.....»»
Improving Arctic greenhouse gas sink and source estimates with field measurements, remote sensing
A new study investigates the sinks and sources of key greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the Arctic landscape with a spatial resolution of only a few square meters. Vegetation and soil conditions explain the differences.....»»
Why don"t people care about Australia"s native rodents? The problem could be their ugly names
The common names of Australian animals often originate in Aboriginal languages, and beneficially so. Continuing use of names such as kangaroo and kookaburra helps to honor the wealth of knowledge possessed by First Nations peoples, to appreciate the.....»»
New study reports that Greenland is a methane sink rather than a source
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have concluded that the methane uptake in dry landscapes exceeds methane emissions from wet areas across the ice-free part of Greenland. The results of the new study contribute important knowledge to climat.....»»
Study predicts best times for Curiosity to sample Mars" methane
Since methane was first detected in Mars' atmosphere 20 years ago, scientists have struggled to uncover its origins and how it is transported around the Red Planet. Measurements from atmospheric samples collected by NASA's Curiosity rover at Gale cra.....»»
Study tracks how wetland tree stem emissions vary by season, location, and hydrological conditions
The recent rise in atmospheric methane (CH4) has drawn increased attention to the potent greenhouse gas, which is approximately 45 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. About 60% of global methane emissions are a.....»»
Coastal chemistry improves methane modeling
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using a new modeling framework in conjunction with data collected from marshes in the Mississippi Delta to improve predictions of climate-warming methane and nitrous oxide emissions from soils in coasta.....»»
Methane pulses on Mars possibly driven by atmospheric pressure changes
New research shows that atmospheric pressure fluctuations that pull gases up from underground could be responsible for releasing subsurface methane into Mars's atmosphere; knowing when and where to look for methane can help the Curiosity rover search.....»»
Scientists retrieve rare methane hydrate samples for climate and energy study
A scientific drilling mission in the Gulf of Mexico has returned with 44 cores from a methane hydrate reservoir deep under the seafloor. Globally, energy-rich methane hydrates hold an estimated 15% of the world's organic carbon but are poorly underst.....»»
Federal rule forces oil states to cut planet-warming methane emissions
Within two years, a new federal rule will force oil- and gas-producing states to crack down on methane gas emissions—a major driver of climate change......»»
The pros and cons of oxygen mediating the performance of nickel catalysts in dry reforming of methane
Catalysis is one of the key technologies in the chemical industry and has a wide-reaching impact on various aspects of our daily lives, including plastics manufacturing, drug synthesis, and production of both fertilizers and fuels. It is estimated th.....»»
Team upgrades technology for monitoring methane emissions
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have upgraded a highly precise technology designed to monitor emissions of methane, a critical greenhouse gas, and other trace gases, even in harsh field conditions. Measuring m.....»»
Methane activation by [LnO]+: The 4f orbital matters
As the "holy grail" in the field of chemistry, the catalytic activation of methane has been a topic of great interest in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Gas-phase experiments provide an ideal platform for exploring catalytic reaction mechanisms.....»»
Webb finds signs of possible aurorae on isolated brown dwarf
Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have found a brown dwarf (an object more massive than Jupiter but smaller than a star) with infrared emission from methane, likely due to energy in its upper atmosphere. This is an unexpected discov.....»»
Breakthrough in nonoxidative coupling of methane: Direct conversion to propylene in low temperature
Nonoxidative coupling of methane (NOCM) exhibits promising prospect in that it affords value-added hydrocarbons and hydrogen with high atom economy. However, the challenge remains in methane's direct, selective conversion to more valuable hydrocarbon.....»»
Meat and dairy industry"s attempt to change how we measure methane emissions would let polluters off the hook
Lobbyists from major polluting industries were out in force at the recent UN climate summit, COP28. Groups representing the livestock industry, which is responsible for around 32% of global methane emissions, want to increase their use of a new way o.....»»
Increase in rice farming in sub-Saharan Africa found to be producing rising amounts of methane
A team of engineers and atmospheric scientists at Harvard University, working with a colleague from the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has calculated the increased amount of methane being expelled into the atmosphere.....»»
New evidence that insect wings may have evolved from gills
How did insect wings originate? This is a question that represents an unsolved mystery of insect evolution. Despite many years of research, it is still not entirely clear from which body structure insect wings actually evolved and what their original.....»»
Scientists sequence full genome of sea cucumber inhabiting hydrothermal vent
Hydrothermal vents are an unlikely environment for animals to flourish, characterized by rapid changes in temperature and a challenging chemistry: acidic pH, rich in sulfur and methane. Not to mention the high hydrostatic pressure and the darkness of.....»»