New Atlas

Environment Audio available

Manipulating gut microbes in livestock could cut their methane emissions

Michael Irving June 28, 2019

Livestock like sheep and cows are responsible for huge amounts of methane emissions. Now, an international team of researchers has analyzed the gut microbes of different sheep and found clues that may help us curb the problem.

Researchers have investigated the gut microbes of sheep to find ways to reduce agricultural methane emissions

Space

Alien-ocean-in-a-lab experiments produce new crystals not found on Earth

Michael Irving June 24, 2019

With oceans of liquid methane, Saturn’s moon Titan is one of the most fascinating places in the solar system. To better understand this weird world, scientists recreated Titan’s alien oceans in the lab, producing new types of crystals that don’t occur naturally on Earth but may be common on Titan.

A near-infrared view of Titan's northern hemisphere, with the orange areas highlighting where crystals of butane ...

Space

Curiosity rover detects unusual spikes of methane on Mars

Nick Lavars June 23, 2019

The latest methane measurements on Mars to generate some intrigue among planetary scientists stems from the largest ever reading of the gas taken during the Curiosity rover's seven-year mission, which again raises the prospect of microbial life existing at some time, some place on the Red Planet.

Environment Audio available

Startling study finds US fertilizer industry emits 100 times more methane than estimated

Rich Haridy June 6, 2019

A new study has independently measured methane emissions from a number of ammonia fertilizer plants. The startling results suggest methane emissions are 100 times higher than industry estimates, and three times higher than the EPA’s estimate for all industry methane emissions in the United States.

Research suggests the fertilizer industry's methane emissions is three times higher than the EPA assumed was ...

Space Audio available

Mystery of methane and water on Mars deepens with first-year results of Trace Gas Orbiter

Michael Irving April 10, 2019

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has made a map of the distribution of watery minerals in the Martian surface, studied how the global dust storm affected the atmosphere, and intriguingly found very little methane, which calls into question the results of a study just last week.

An illustration of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter analyzing the atmosphere of Mars

Environment Audio available

Newly identified bacteria feeds on methane in the atmosphere

Nick Lavars April 9, 2019

Scientists in Europe have made an exciting breakthrough in the effort to limit methane seeping into the atmosphere, isolating a previously unknown bacterium that appears to have a ravenous appetite for the atmospheric trace gas.

Methane’s super radiation-trapping abilities make it around 25 to 30 times more potent than CO2 as ...

Space Audio available

Curiosity and Mars Express sniff out source of Martian methane

Michael Irving April 1, 2019

The mystery of methane on Mars has been wafting around for decades. Now, using data gathered by the ESA's Mars Express orbiter and NASA's Curiosity rover on the ground, a new study has not only confirmed that the gas is there, but identified its likely source.

The Mars Express orbiter and Curiosity rover have worked together to pinpoint the source of Martian ...

Space

Summer is coming: Cassini images show methane rain on Titan

Michael Irving January 16, 2019

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is a surprisingly dynamic world. Summer was due to hit its northern hemisphere in 2016, but strangely it didn’t seem to arrive as expected. Now, astronomers have analyzed Cassini images and found evidence of rainfall, indicating that finally, summer is coming.

A composite image of Titan, where evidence of summer rainfall has been found in the northern ...

Environment

New satellite to set sights on industrial methane leaks

James Holloway April 16, 2018

According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the oil and gas industries alone release 75 million metric tons of methane each year. In response, the organization is planning to launch MethaneSAT to identify major sources of methane emissions and identify opportunities for reduction.

MethaneSAT could be keeping tabs on the oil and gas industries by 2021

Space

Earthly microbes found to survive in Enceladus-like environment

Michael Irving February 28, 2018

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is one of the most promising places to look for life. In a new study, scientists subjected earthly bacteria to the kind of conditions found on Enceladus. They were able to survive and reproduce, adding weight to the idea that the icy moon might just be able to support life.

Scientists have recreated conditions found on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, and discovered that some earthly bacteria ...