Methane-Eating Bacteria Could Reduce Global Warming
A type of bacteria that eats methane could help slow global warming, according to a new study.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is released into the atmosphere by things like agriculture, landfills, and the oil and gas industry.
Although less methane is released into the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it warms the planet 85 times more than carbon dioxide during the first 20 years after it is released. Methane is now responsible for around 30% of global warming.
Previous studies have shown that there are many types of bacteria that eat methane. But they only do so when methane is present in large amounts — usually at concentrations of 5,000 or more parts per million.
Researchers at the University of Washington and the US Naval Academy have now found a type of bacteria that can remove methane at just one 10th that concentration — 500 parts per million. And it eats methane at a faster rate than other bacteria.
While methane is usually only found in the atmosphere at concentrations of 1.9 parts per million, it's around 500 parts per million at places like landfills and sites that produce oil and gas.
If the bacteria could be further improved and combined with better bioreactor designs to achieve a 20-fold increase in its ability to eat methane, 50,000 to 300,000 bioreactors at such sites around the world could keep 240 million metric tons of methane out of the atmosphere over 20 years.
This could reduce global warming by 0.21 to 0.22 degrees Celsius by the year 2050.
The researchers believe that this methane-eating bacteria could make such technology economically possible. However, there is still the question of whether businesses and governments would actually be interested in making it happen.
//New words//
greenhouse gas
any of the gasses that trap heat in the atmosphere and are linked to global warming
The buildup of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere has led to a significant rise in global temperatures.
atmosphere
the mixture of gases that surround a planet or star
Weather balloons are often used to study pollution in the atmosphere.
landfill
a place where trash is buried under the ground
Plastic items in landfills can take up to 1,000 years to break down.
concentration
The amount of a particular substance within a space, body of liquid, etc.
Absinthe has a very high alcohol concentration.
combine
to join or add two or more things together
Their music combines elements of reggae and blues.
bioreactor
an apparatus in which a biological reaction or process is carried out
Our lab has just been equipped with a new bioreactor.
//Discussion//
1. What are your thoughts on the newly discovered methane-eating bacteria?
->
I think that's a very extraordinary discovery.
Because we need solutions that bring down big numbers.
Of course, you need to carry your own bag, separate your garbage, and make efforts to reduce the amount of plastic you use.
However, in recent years, significant typhoons and wildfires have continued to cause global catastrophes due to climate change.
Addressing these challenges requires significant efforts to improve the environment around the world.
2. Do you think governments should invest in technology that uses bacteria?
->
Yes, I think so. This initiative represents hope for humanity.
Every year, many buildings and roads are destroyed by natural disasters.
To reduce this cost, improving the global environment can only be beneficial.
3. Is your country making any significant changes to combat global warming?
->
Unfortunately, as usual, it seems like only small efforts are being made by the general public.
And the development of solar panels and wind power generation involves corruption and bribery.
Additionally, Japan is prone to many natural disasters, so new equipment often breaks down.
4. Have you made any lifestyle changes to reduce your carbon footprint?
->
Use a water bottle rather than a plastic bottle.
When purchasing vegetables and fruits, choose domestically produced products rather than imported ones.
However, significant action is needed since it is just an accumulation of tiny things.
5. Are you optimistic that global warming will be under control by 2050?
->
It feels much better than no improvement at all.
Of course, it would be great if more improvements could be made sooner.
However, no matter what we do, it may be inevitable that, in the end, humans will no longer be able to live on Earth like Mars.
//Further Discussion//
Have a discussion based on the following questions.
6. Has your country already been affected by global warming in any way?
->
Yes, we had a sweltering and humid summer for about three months this year.
Next year, we will see fewer beautiful autumn leaves.
Japan is a country where spring, summer, fall and winter seasons are lovely.
However, there may only be long summers and winters in the future.
Sadly, the pleasant seasons are decreasing.
7. What are the most pressing climate-related issues your country is facing?
->
A big typhoon and a hot summer.
Until now, even if a typhoon occurred, it would pass within a day or two after landfall.
However, the damage can become considerable now that typhoons remain on land for days.
A change in the flow of the atmosphere causes this.
8. What businesses in your country have a reputation for being eco-friendly?
->
Toyota and Uniqlo are well-known companies that are committed to the environment.
Kikkoman, Morinaga & Co., food companies, and IT companies such as Fujitsu and Ricoh are also involved.
When we buy products, we tend to choose products from companies with a good image.
It will be easier to choose if you have a clear and specific initiative at that time.
https://netzeronow.jp/companies-that-address-environmental-problems/
9. Which of your friends or family is the most informed on environmental issues?
->
I don't know anyone in particular, but my husband works for a chemical manufacturing company, and when I have questions, he often answers them.
The average person is fooled by commercials and news into thinking that something is a good product or something good for the environment.
However, whether this is a good initiative must based on scientific and historical grounds.
A long time ago, when my husband chose a new car, he didn't like EV cars.
I couldn't understand why.
However, it now appears that the world is beginning to understand why.
10. Do you know anyone who isn't concerned about global warming?
->
My husband says that there may be no one who is not worried, but some things are beyond our control.
It is unclear whether carbon dioxide is causing global warming.
We may be in a cycle where temperatures continue to rise even if we do nothing.
Humans may be destined to become extinct due to global warming, just as the dinosaurs became extinct during the Ice Age.
Methane-Eating Bacteria Could Reduce Global Warming
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Add info)
Bacteria that ‘eat’ methane could slow global heating, study finds
This article is more than 1 month old
Technology has the potential to make deep cuts to emissions of the potent greenhouse gas but requires major investment
A)
Bacteria that consume the greenhouse gas methane could slow the rate of global heating, according to a study out this week.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emitted from energy (natural gas and petroleum systems), industry, agriculture, land use and waste management activities.
B)
Now, a group of researchers from the University of Washington are proposing a method of removing methane by using a group of bacteria known as methanotrophs to convert methane to carbon dioxide and biomass naturally.
All the bacteria in this group “‘eat’ methane, removing it from the air and converting part of it to cells as a sustainable protein source,” according to the lead researcher, Mary E Lidstrom.
C)
Lidstrom’s team found a strain of bacteria within this group called methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C that can remove methane efficiently even when present in lower amounts. The researchers said that technology could help slow global heating if it became widespread.
D)
Typically, this group of bacteria thrive in environments with high methane levels (between 5,000 and 10,000 parts per million (ppm)). The average atmospheric concentrations have much lower levels of only about 1.9 ppm of methane. But certain areas such as landfills, rice fields and oilwells emit higher concentrations of about 500 ppm.
E)
“Bacteria that rapidly eat methane at the higher concentrations found around cattle herds, etc., could make a huge contribution to cutting methane emissions, especially from tropical agriculture,” said Euan Nisbet, professor of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, commenting on the findings of the study.
F)
According to the study, the strain’s high methane consumption rate is probably due to a low energy requirement and more significant attraction for methane – more than five times more than other bacteria.
“The bacteria oxidise the methane to CO2 (a much less powerful greenhouse gas), and so you can even use the exhaust to pump into greenhouses and grow tomatoes,” said Nisbet.
G)
“The biggest barrier to implementation now is technical: we need to increase the methane treatment unit 20-fold. If we can achieve that, the biggest barriers are investment capital and public acceptance. We believe we could have field pilots tested within three to four years, and scale-up would depend on investment capital and commercialisation,” said Lidstrom.
H)
Agriculture is the largest source of methane emissions due to livestock manure and gastroenteric releases. Methane has more than 85 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere and poses a particular problem as a greenhouse gas.
Atmospheric methane has risen rapidly over the past 15 years, reaching record highs, and currently accounts for at least 30% of total global heating. In 2021, several of the world’s largest economies agreed at Cop26 to work together to reduce methane levels. However, they continue to rise.
I)
To implement methane-eating bacteria on a mass scale, thousands of high-functioning reactors will be needed.
“This may be daunting, but if our survival depends on lowering atmospheric methane now, the cost may be a lower priority in allocating resources. Lack of political will and understanding in the private and public sectors about the urgency of the need to reduce methane now will make global heating even worse in coming years,” said Mary Ann Bruns, professor of soil microbiology at Pennsylvania State University.
J)
Currently, most proposed methane reduction solutions are focused on decreasing emissions, but this is not always possible. Researchers stress that methane removal and reduced emissions strategies are needed to meet climate targets.
However, Lidstrom warns that emissions reduction strategies that enhance bacterial activity in natural communities may also increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, which has ten times the global heating potential than methane. Critically, this methanotrophic bacteria-based technology does not produce nitrous oxide emissions.
K)
Recent projections predicted that global heating can be reduced from 0.21C to 0.22C by removing 0.3 to 1 petagrams of methane by 2050. Temperature decreases of this magnitude are expected to be significant, especially when combined with other emissions reduction strategies.
