A new study recently published in the journal Nature Sustainability outlines a potential solution for reducing methane emissions. Scientists suggest harnessing the power of microbes, specifically methanotrophic bacteria, to help reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere. This could provide a viable alternative to current methods of reducing methane emissions, such as capturing and flaring or simply reducing the amount of livestock.

Methanotrophic bacteria are a type of microbe that feeds on methane. When these bacteria consume methane, they convert it into carbon dioxide, a far less potent greenhouse gas. Scientists suggest that by harnessing the power of these bacteria, we could significantly reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere. The study outlines a number of potential ways this could be done, from using methanotrophic bacteria-infused biofilters to introducing them into existing ecosystems.

The study suggests that these microbial solutions could be a viable option for reducing methane emissions. However, more research is needed to better understand how these solutions could be implemented in real-world scenarios.

It’s exciting to see research being conducted to explore microbial solutions to methane emissions! This could be a promising way to reduce one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and hopefully more

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org