Methane-munching bacteria; natural solution to curb global heating
2 Min Read
A breakthrough study unveils a potential solution to address the pressing issue of methane emissions and their contribution to global heating.
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Cattle in a field at Townshend Farm in Ashburton, New Zealand (AFP)
A recent study suggested that a group of methane-consuming bacteria could play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of global heating.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas released from various sources including energy, industry, agriculture, and waste management, contributes significantly to climate change.
Researchers from California University Long Beach have proposed a method that utilizes specific bacteria called methanotrophs to convert methane into carbon dioxide and biomass, effectively removing it from the air.
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The study identified a strain of bacteria called methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C that efficiently consumes methane, even at lower concentrations. This technology, if widely adopted, could slow down global heating.
The bacteria's capability to thrive on higher methane concentrations, such as those found in cattle herds and certain environments, could significantly cut methane emissions.
By converting methane into less potent greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, these bacteria offer potential benefits for greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable protein production. While technical challenges remain in scaling up this approach, the urgent need to reduce methane emissions is increasingly recognized, especially given its significant contribution to global heating.
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