methane news stories on Newser

New Environmental Worry: Ancient Gas

Mark Russell — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:40:00 CDT

There are huge quantities of methane locked in ice sheets around the world, threatening to speed up climate change as they get released in melting ice. But determining which methane is the ancient kind and which is much younger and hails from, say, plant life that has decayed in lakes...

Methane Rains on Titan... Every 1K Years

Mark Russell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:40:05 CDT

Scientists think there are only two places in the solar system where liquid rains fall on solid land—the Earth and Saturn's moon Titan. But on Titan, that rain isn't water, it's methane, and it falls as little as once every 1,000 years in parts, according to a new...

Study: 14 Practical Steps Can Slow Climate Change

Matt Cantor — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:24:07 CST

Just because the world can't agree on a battle plan against carbon dioxide doesn't mean we can't take big strides against climate change, scientists say. In fact, a dozen or so relatively simple steps could cut global warming by nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit by mid-century, a process that could save...

25 Dead in Ukraine Mining Accidents

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:22:15 CDT

Rescue workers have found five more bodies at two Ukrainian coal mines where accidents occurred, raising the death toll to 25. Twelve other miners remain missing. The accidents in the eastern region shocked the country and highlighted the dangers of the nation's mining industry. It is believed to be one...

Australia: Let's Kill Camels to Save Planet

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:56:03 CDT

Meet another global warming bad-guy: the lowly camel. Australia's government is pitching a proposal in which it would be a-OK to kill camels in the name of reducing greenhouse gas emissions—and in exchange for cash. The AP reports that in one year's time, just six of these creatures will...

Bleak Outlook for 31 Men Trapped in Pakistan Mine

Mark Russell — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:35:00 CDT

A mine explosion in Pakistan killed 21 people yesterday, and officials say there is little hope that any of the remaining 31 men trapped inside will make it out alive, reports AP . Making the situation worse is a poisonous methane leak, which officials say has been preventing rescue workers from...

Bacteria Ate Methane in Gulf at Near-Impossible Rate

Kevin Spak — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:19:05 CST

Bacteria appears to have broken down all the methane that spilled out of the Deepwater Horizon well in less than four months—even though the process should have taken years, according to one team of scientists studying the spill. “This was a surprise to us,” says the chemical oceanographer who...

Worries Over Leaks Mean Another Day of Tests

M. Morris — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:48:00 CDT

Worries over "anomalies" and seeping oil near the site of the Gulf spill have led authorities to order another day of testing on the cap over the damaged BP well, CNN reports . "There is no indication at this time this is any indication of a significant problem in the well...

Oil Rig Crew: We All Were Sure We'd Die

Polly Davis Doig — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:09:45 CDT

It was a pristine day on the Gulf of Mexico, and the crew of the Deepwater Horizon had much to celebrate—they were nearing completion of a difficult oil well ahead of schedule, and a crew of BP execs had landed that morning to laud their safety record. Then at...