[Applause] thank you I’m a microbiologist and I
thank you I’m a microbiologist and I
thank you I’m a microbiologist and I study ecological interactions among
study ecological interactions among
study ecological interactions among microorganisms within their communities
microorganisms within their communities
microorganisms within their communities and living the environment today I’m
and living the environment today I’m
and living the environment today I’m going to talk to you about methane its
going to talk to you about methane its
going to talk to you about methane its importance on the earth and some amazing
importance on the earth and some amazing
importance on the earth and some amazing relationships that bacteria transforming
relationships that bacteria transforming
relationships that bacteria transforming methane have perhaps you know methane as
methane have perhaps you know methane as
methane have perhaps you know methane as the most important component of natural
the most important component of natural
the most important component of natural gas because methane is odorless when
gas because methane is odorless when
gas because methane is odorless when it’s used in residential applications
it’s used in residential applications
it’s used in residential applications we had a chemical to allow you to detect
we had a chemical to allow you to detect
we had a chemical to allow you to detect its smell so that does not build up
its smell so that does not build up
its smell so that does not build up potentially causing an explosion methane
potentially causing an explosion methane
potentially causing an explosion methane has a simple chemical formula ch4 in
has a simple chemical formula ch4 in
has a simple chemical formula ch4 in fact it’s the smallest but it’s the most
fact it’s the smallest but it’s the most
fact it’s the smallest but it’s the most abundant hydrocarbon firstly we use
abundant hydrocarbon firstly we use
abundant hydrocarbon firstly we use methane as a fuel but 28 trillion cubic
methane as a fuel but 28 trillion cubic
methane as a fuel but 28 trillion cubic feet of methane are consumed each year
feet of methane are consumed each year
feet of methane are consumed each year in the US with about 1/3 going to
in the US with about 1/3 going to
in the US with about 1/3 going to industrial use 1/3 going to electricity
industrial use 1/3 going to electricity
industrial use 1/3 going to electricity production in a smaller fraction being
production in a smaller fraction being
production in a smaller fraction being used for residential and commercial
used for residential and commercial
used for residential and commercial heating natural gas as a fuel is only
heating natural gas as a fuel is only
heating natural gas as a fuel is only surpassed in the u.s. by petroleum but
surpassed in the u.s. by petroleum but
surpassed in the u.s. by petroleum but as a fuel natural gas composes about 26%
as a fuel natural gas composes about 26%
as a fuel natural gas composes about 26% of our energy use unfortunately methane
of our energy use unfortunately methane
of our energy use unfortunately methane is also a greenhouse gas with about 10
is also a greenhouse gas with about 10
is also a greenhouse gas with about 10 times the potency of carbon dioxide what
times the potency of carbon dioxide what
times the potency of carbon dioxide what that means is that every molecule of
that means is that every molecule of
that means is that every molecule of methane in the atmosphere reflects back
methane in the atmosphere reflects back
methane in the atmosphere reflects back about 10 times as much heat as a
about 10 times as much heat as a
about 10 times as much heat as a molecule of carbon dioxide in the same
molecule of carbon dioxide in the same
molecule of carbon dioxide in the same location in that respect methane is the
location in that respect methane is the
location in that respect methane is the second most important greenhouse gas
second most important greenhouse gas
second most important greenhouse gas next to carbon dioxide methane can be
next to carbon dioxide methane can be
next to carbon dioxide methane can be formed through high-temperature
formed through high-temperature
formed through high-temperature biogeochemical processes or geochemical
biogeochemical processes or geochemical
biogeochemical processes or geochemical processes and deep rock or it can be
processes and deep rock or it can be
processes and deep rock or it can be formed by bacteria that live in
formed by bacteria that live in
formed by bacteria that live in sediments and soils it gets into the
sediments and soils it gets into the
sediments and soils it gets into the atmosphere in a variety of ways
about a third of it is released from
about a third of it is released from natural gas and petroleum deposits but
natural gas and petroleum deposits but
natural gas and petroleum deposits but of the remaining sources of methane
of the remaining sources of methane
of the remaining sources of methane about 50% of them are human related and
about 50% of them are human related and
about 50% of them are human related and by far the vast majority of that methane
by far the vast majority of that methane
by far the vast majority of that methane is produced by bacteria aside from the
is produced by bacteria aside from the
is produced by bacteria aside from the petroleum related sources the primary
petroleum related sources the primary
petroleum related sources the primary source of methane or a major source of
source of methane or a major source of
source of methane or a major source of methane is the enteric fermentation this
methane is the enteric fermentation this
methane is the enteric fermentation this is methane that’s produced in digestion
is methane that’s produced in digestion
is methane that’s produced in digestion during digestion by cows sheep goats and
during digestion by cows sheep goats and
during digestion by cows sheep goats and yaks the acts are important this cloth
these animals all have a large digestive
these animals all have a large digestive organ where they break down grasses and
organ where they break down grasses and
organ where they break down grasses and other plant materials to a variety of
other plant materials to a variety of
other plant materials to a variety of products including methane the methane
products including methane the methane
products including methane the methane is released by irritation that is
is released by irritation that is
is released by irritation that is belching the total methane released from
belching the total methane released from
belching the total methane released from this source is directly related to the
this source is directly related to the
this source is directly related to the number of grazing animals out there
number of grazing animals out there
number of grazing animals out there perhaps there’s a solution one of them
perhaps there’s a solution one of them
perhaps there’s a solution one of them is for you to eat less meat another it’s
is for you to eat less meat another it’s
is for you to eat less meat another it’s fairly simple we could trap the methane
fairly simple we could trap the methane
fairly simple we could trap the methane before we can trap the methane before
before we can trap the methane before
before we can trap the methane before it’s released to the atmosphere and this
it’s released to the atmosphere and this
it’s released to the atmosphere and this has actually been implemented so some of
has actually been implemented so some of
has actually been implemented so some of you are asking to yourselves hopefully
you are asking to yourselves hopefully
you are asking to yourselves hopefully whether whether humans produce methane
whether whether humans produce methane
whether whether humans produce methane whether we have methane producing
whether we have methane producing
whether we have methane producing bacteria and our GI tract and that’s
bacteria and our GI tract and that’s
bacteria and our GI tract and that’s where I’m pointing down here and the
where I’m pointing down here and the
where I’m pointing down here and the answer is that some of us do but even in
answer is that some of us do but even in
answer is that some of us do but even in those people by far the most important
those people by far the most important
those people by far the most important source the most important gas that’s
source the most important gas that’s
source the most important gas that’s produced and released by these processes
produced and released by these processes
produced and released by these processes is not is not methane but it’s hydrogen
is not is not methane but it’s hydrogen
is not is not methane but it’s hydrogen and carbon dioxide okay
there there are a couple of other human
there there are a couple of other human human related sources of methane that
human related sources of methane that
human related sources of methane that are very important one of them is this
are very important one of them is this
are very important one of them is this management of animal waste management of
management of animal waste management of
management of animal waste management of waste from cows pigs and chickens when
waste from cows pigs and chickens when
waste from cows pigs and chickens when these theses are contained the naturally
these theses are contained the naturally
these theses are contained the naturally occurring bacteria break down partially
occurring bacteria break down partially
occurring bacteria break down partially degraded feeds producing methane and
degraded feeds producing methane and
degraded feeds producing methane and carbon dioxide and landfills are also
carbon dioxide and landfills are also
carbon dioxide and landfills are also another source of methane all of the
another source of methane all of the
another source of methane all of the trash that you produce ends up in a big
trash that you produce ends up in a big
trash that you produce ends up in a big hole in the ground that we cover with
hole in the ground that we cover with
hole in the ground that we cover with soil and called the lamp call a landfill
soil and called the lamp call a landfill
soil and called the lamp call a landfill think about what’s in your trash food
think about what’s in your trash food
think about what’s in your trash food paper building materials these can also
paper building materials these can also
paper building materials these can also these can all be converted to methane
these can all be converted to methane
these can all be converted to methane and carbon dioxide by soil bacteria
and carbon dioxide by soil bacteria
and carbon dioxide by soil bacteria finally this other category is extremely
finally this other category is extremely
finally this other category is extremely important this includes places locations
important this includes places locations
important this includes places locations where plant growth and subsequent burial
where plant growth and subsequent burial
where plant growth and subsequent burial or storage occur I’m talking about
or storage occur I’m talking about
or storage occur I’m talking about wetlands peat bogs and tundra soils
this is not the most important source of
this is not the most important source of methane at the moment but it’s receiving
methane at the moment but it’s receiving
methane at the moment but it’s receiving a huge amount of attention by scientists
a huge amount of attention by scientists
a huge amount of attention by scientists and this is because there’s a lot of
and this is because there’s a lot of
and this is because there’s a lot of carbon a lot of plant derived carbon
carbon a lot of plant derived carbon
carbon a lot of plant derived carbon stored in these locations as global
stored in these locations as global
stored in these locations as global warming occurs soils will warm
warming occurs soils will warm
warming occurs soils will warm dramatically increasing rates of methane
dramatically increasing rates of methane
dramatically increasing rates of methane formation and thawing permafrost soils
formation and thawing permafrost soils
formation and thawing permafrost soils making carbon available for conversion
making carbon available for conversion
making carbon available for conversion to methane okay I think it’s time to
to methane okay I think it’s time to
to methane okay I think it’s time to talk about who makes methane and by that
talk about who makes methane and by that
talk about who makes methane and by that I mean the bacteria involved I actually
I mean the bacteria involved I actually
I mean the bacteria involved I actually have a number of favorite bacteria but
have a number of favorite bacteria but
have a number of favorite bacteria but these methane producing bacteria at the
these methane producing bacteria at the
these methane producing bacteria at the top of my list bacteria right you can
top of my list bacteria right you can
top of my list bacteria right you can line up about 10,000 of these
line up about 10,000 of these
line up about 10,000 of these microorganisms across the face of a dime
microorganisms across the face of a dime
microorganisms across the face of a dime these methane producing bacteria are
these methane producing bacteria are
these methane producing bacteria are special and their story goes back a long
special and their story goes back a long
special and their story goes back a long time the earth is about 4.5 billion
time the earth is about 4.5 billion
time the earth is about 4.5 billion years old and during the first 2.5
years old and during the first 2.5
years old and during the first 2.5 billion years of the Earth’s history the
billion years of the Earth’s history the
billion years of the Earth’s history the earth was a rough place to live there
earth was a rough place to live there
earth was a rough place to live there was no oxygen in the atmosphere and so
was no oxygen in the atmosphere and so
was no oxygen in the atmosphere and so respiration as we know it using oxygen
respiration as we know it using oxygen
respiration as we know it using oxygen did not occur when I discussed
did not occur when I discussed
did not occur when I discussed respiration I’m referring to a cellular
respiration I’m referring to a cellular
respiration I’m referring to a cellular process of breaking down to food in the
process of breaking down to food in the
process of breaking down to food in the presence of an oxidant and producing
presence of an oxidant and producing
presence of an oxidant and producing energy which is used for cell growth or
energy which is used for cell growth or
energy which is used for cell growth or other processes like standing up here
other processes like standing up here
other processes like standing up here and giving a talk for example the
and giving a talk for example the
and giving a talk for example the atmosphere on the early earth contained
atmosphere on the early earth contained
atmosphere on the early earth contained primarily carbon dioxide and nitrogen
primarily carbon dioxide and nitrogen
primarily carbon dioxide and nitrogen and so when bacteria were looking for a
and so when bacteria were looking for a
and so when bacteria were looking for a chemical to respire carbon dioxide was
chemical to respire carbon dioxide was
chemical to respire carbon dioxide was the most abundant compound so as life
the most abundant compound so as life
the most abundant compound so as life and respiration evolved on the early
and respiration evolved on the early
and respiration evolved on the early earth respiration of carbon dioxide to
earth respiration of carbon dioxide to
earth respiration of carbon dioxide to methane became a dominant process this
methane became a dominant process this
methane became a dominant process this methane producing bacteria developed a
methane producing bacteria developed a
methane producing bacteria developed a very complex mechanism very complex
very complex mechanism very complex
very complex mechanism very complex biochemical
biochemical
biochemical mechanism for producing methane but even
mechanism for producing methane but even
mechanism for producing methane but even now these bacteria use a very limited
now these bacteria use a very limited
now these bacteria use a very limited range of foods they’re illustrated here
range of foods they’re illustrated here
range of foods they’re illustrated here these compounds these chemicals that
these compounds these chemicals that
these compounds these chemicals that they use as foods were abundant on the
they use as foods were abundant on the
they use as foods were abundant on the early earth but are much less abundant
early earth but are much less abundant
early earth but are much less abundant now as bacteria and plants and animals
now as bacteria and plants and animals
now as bacteria and plants and animals have evolved over the billions of years
have evolved over the billions of years
have evolved over the billions of years of Earth’s history to produce more and
of Earth’s history to produce more and
of Earth’s history to produce more and more complex chemicals these bacteria
more complex chemicals these bacteria
more complex chemicals these bacteria have not increased their repertoire of
have not increased their repertoire of
have not increased their repertoire of nutrients they’ve taken the strategy of
nutrients they’ve taken the strategy of
nutrients they’ve taken the strategy of teaming up with an unrelated organism
teaming up with an unrelated organism
teaming up with an unrelated organism the process is called sin trophy which
the process is called sin trophy which
the process is called sin trophy which literally means feeding together the
literally means feeding together the
literally means feeding together the strategy involves one bacterium breaking
strategy involves one bacterium breaking
strategy involves one bacterium breaking down a complex chemical and feeding its
down a complex chemical and feeding its
down a complex chemical and feeding its products to a methane producing
products to a methane producing
products to a methane producing bacterium that use those to grow so how
bacterium that use those to grow so how
bacterium that use those to grow so how does this work
does this work
does this work these bacteria must seek out a partner
these bacteria must seek out a partner
these bacteria must seek out a partner and they do this by recognizing
and they do this by recognizing
and they do this by recognizing chemicals that are located on the
chemicals that are located on the
chemicals that are located on the outside of the cells of the other
outside of the cells of the other
outside of the cells of the other organism of the other bacterium and
organism of the other bacterium and
organism of the other bacterium and swimming towards it this bacterium must
swimming towards it this bacterium must
swimming towards it this bacterium must be close together to growth centrally
be close together to growth centrally
be close together to growth centrally there are two strategies in one case the
there are two strategies in one case the
there are two strategies in one case the close proximity is required for these
close proximity is required for these
close proximity is required for these bacteria to most efficiently exchange
bacteria to most efficiently exchange
bacteria to most efficiently exchange nutrients alternatively these bacteria
nutrients alternatively these bacteria
nutrients alternatively these bacteria can just exchange electrons they do this
can just exchange electrons they do this
can just exchange electrons they do this using what we call electrically
using what we call electrically
using what we call electrically conductive nanowires
conductive nanowires
conductive nanowires these are filaments made up of proteins
these are filaments made up of proteins
these are filaments made up of proteins and metals and these cells are connected
and metals and these cells are connected
and metals and these cells are connected by an electrically conductive network
by an electrically conductive network
by an electrically conductive network that allows these cells to carry out the
that allows these cells to carry out the
that allows these cells to carry out the complete conversion of complex organic
complete conversion of complex organic
complete conversion of complex organic chemicals to carbon dioxide and methane
chemicals to carbon dioxide and methane
chemicals to carbon dioxide and methane now this bacteria evolved in an
now this bacteria evolved in an
now this bacteria evolved in an environment that was devoid of oxygen
environment that was devoid of oxygen
environment that was devoid of oxygen and as a result these bacteria cannot
and as a result these bacteria cannot
and as a result these bacteria cannot tolerate oxygen so methane production
tolerate oxygen so methane production
tolerate oxygen so methane production only occurs in environments in which
only occurs in environments in which
only occurs in environments in which oxygen is depleted this thing this
oxygen is depleted this thing this
oxygen is depleted this thing this includes most of the locations that I’ve
includes most of the locations that I’ve
includes most of the locations that I’ve talked about already room and wetlands
talked about already room and wetlands
talked about already room and wetlands landfills tundra soils etc there’s
landfills tundra soils etc there’s
landfills tundra soils etc there’s another part of this story at least from
another part of this story at least from
another part of this story at least from an ecological perspective you may be
an ecological perspective you may be
an ecological perspective you may be wondering whether all the methane that’s
wondering whether all the methane that’s
wondering whether all the methane that’s produced actually makes it to the
produced actually makes it to the
produced actually makes it to the atmosphere after all that methane
atmosphere after all that methane
atmosphere after all that methane typically must pass through soils must
typically must pass through soils must
typically must pass through soils must pass upwards typically through soils and
pass upwards typically through soils and
pass upwards typically through soils and sediments that could potentially benefit
sediments that could potentially benefit
sediments that could potentially benefit from the large amount of energy that’s
from the large amount of energy that’s
from the large amount of energy that’s available and there is a large amount of
available and there is a large amount of
available and there is a large amount of energy provided that there’s a suitable
energy provided that there’s a suitable
energy provided that there’s a suitable oxidant available like oxygen in ocean
oxidant available like oxygen in ocean
oxidant available like oxygen in ocean sediments and bottom waters that oxidant
sediments and bottom waters that oxidant
sediments and bottom waters that oxidant is sulfate or nitrate but in soils and
is sulfate or nitrate but in soils and
is sulfate or nitrate but in soils and wetlands oxygen is used here’s an
wetlands oxygen is used here’s an
wetlands oxygen is used here’s an example of an amazing system where
example of an amazing system where
example of an amazing system where methane is partially or fully oxidized
methane is partially or fully oxidized
methane is partially or fully oxidized before it makes it to the atmosphere a
before it makes it to the atmosphere a
before it makes it to the atmosphere a number of years ago I worked on a peat
number of years ago I worked on a peat
number of years ago I worked on a peat bog here’s an example of a peat bog in
bog here’s an example of a peat bog in
bog here’s an example of a peat bog in Latvia the one I worked on was called
Latvia the one I worked on was called
Latvia the one I worked on was called Thoreau’s bog and the guy with the
Thoreau’s bog and the guy with the
Thoreau’s bog and the guy with the mustache is one of my colleagues this is
mustache is one of my colleagues this is
mustache is one of my colleagues this is in northern Massachusetts these peat
in northern Massachusetts these peat
in northern Massachusetts these peat bogs are abundant they’re located in
bogs are abundant they’re located in
bogs are abundant they’re located in northern areas northern part of the US
northern areas northern part of the US
northern areas northern part of the US Canada Northern Europe they were formed
Canada Northern Europe they were formed
Canada Northern Europe they were formed as glaciers moved south carving divots
as glaciers moved south carving divots
as glaciers moved south carving divots in the ancient rock that’s present in
in the ancient rock that’s present in
in the ancient rock that’s present in these locations as these holes filled up
these locations as these holes filled up
these locations as these holes filled up with water this spagna Moss began to
with water this spagna Moss began to
with water this spagna Moss began to grow and Spagna modifies its environment
grow and Spagna modifies its environment
grow and Spagna modifies its environment decreasing the pH releasing acids
decreasing the pH releasing acids
decreasing the pH releasing acids ensuring its survival in the system
ensuring its survival in the system
ensuring its survival in the system because of the low ph of the water and
because of the low ph of the water and
because of the low ph of the water and the relative lack of oxygen previous
the relative lack of oxygen previous
the relative lack of oxygen previous years growth of the sphagnum Moss decays
years growth of the sphagnum Moss decays
years growth of the sphagnum Moss decays quite slowly and as a result you end up
quite slowly and as a result you end up
quite slowly and as a result you end up with literally thousands of years of
with literally thousands of years of
with literally thousands of years of moss thousands of years of dead plant
moss thousands of years of dead plant
moss thousands of years of dead plant material growing underneath the live
material growing underneath the live
material growing underneath the live plant as this material of the case
plant as this material of the case
plant as this material of the case methane is released methane is formed
methane is released methane is formed
methane is released methane is formed and then released and actually gets
and then released and actually gets
and then released and actually gets trapped up in the decaying plant
trapped up in the decaying plant
trapped up in the decaying plant material serving to allow this entire
material serving to allow this entire
material serving to allow this entire plant and dead plant emits and it
plant and dead plant emits and it
plant and dead plant emits and it actually floats like a raft so you can
actually floats like a raft so you can
actually floats like a raft so you can walk out on it and these people are
walk out on it and these people are
walk out on it and these people are actually walking out on this layer of
actually walking out on this layer of
actually walking out on this layer of this layer of sphagnum and other
this layer of sphagnum and other
this layer of sphagnum and other materials that’s perhaps a meter or two
materials that’s perhaps a meter or two
materials that’s perhaps a meter or two thick and there’s water underneath so as
thick and there’s water underneath so as
thick and there’s water underneath so as the methane is produced underneath it
the methane is produced underneath it
the methane is produced underneath it actually moves upwards and some of it
actually moves upwards and some of it
actually moves upwards and some of it ends up being oxidized to carbon dioxide
ends up being oxidized to carbon dioxide
ends up being oxidized to carbon dioxide some of it makes it up to the atmosphere
some of it makes it up to the atmosphere
some of it makes it up to the atmosphere this same process occurs in wetlands all
this same process occurs in wetlands all
this same process occurs in wetlands all around the world for example in the öyou
around the world for example in the öyou
around the world for example in the öyou duck pond the upper part of the o-u duck
duck pond the upper part of the o-u duck
duck pond the upper part of the o-u duck pond is an awesome wetland there’s
pond is an awesome wetland there’s
pond is an awesome wetland there’s methane produced and then this methane
methane produced and then this methane
methane produced and then this methane passes through plants that have the
passes through plants that have the
passes through plants that have the potential to oxidize it perhaps an
potential to oxidize it perhaps an
potential to oxidize it perhaps an interesting part of this story is that
interesting part of this story is that
interesting part of this story is that the bacteria that convert the methane to
the bacteria that convert the methane to
the bacteria that convert the methane to carbon dioxide are not located on the
carbon dioxide are not located on the
carbon dioxide are not located on the outside of the plant as we would have
outside of the plant as we would have
outside of the plant as we would have expected they’re actually located within
expected they’re actually located within
expected they’re actually located within the plant cells these bacteria are
the plant cells these bacteria are
the plant cells these bacteria are present in a symbiotic relationship with
present in a symbiotic relationship with
present in a symbiotic relationship with this plant in which the plant provides
this plant in which the plant provides
this plant in which the plant provides shelter for these bacteria and the
shelter for these bacteria and the
shelter for these bacteria and the bacteria either provide nutrients or
bacteria either provide nutrients or
bacteria either provide nutrients or energy to the plant
okay I’ve spoken about a number of
okay I’ve spoken about a number of complex relationships
complex relationships
complex relationships bacteria transforming methane are
bacteria transforming methane are
bacteria transforming methane are involved in now that we were beginning
involved in now that we were beginning
involved in now that we were beginning to understand the mechanisms for these
to understand the mechanisms for these
to understand the mechanisms for these relationships we can begin to develop
relationships we can begin to develop
relationships we can begin to develop technologies that take advantage of this
technologies that take advantage of this
technologies that take advantage of this information perhaps the most obvious
information perhaps the most obvious
information perhaps the most obvious potential application is in the energy
potential application is in the energy
potential application is in the energy industry methane can be oxidized and in
industry methane can be oxidized and in
industry methane can be oxidized and in nature this process involves the removal
nature this process involves the removal
nature this process involves the removal of electrons a number of scientists have
of electrons a number of scientists have
of electrons a number of scientists have developed what we call microbial
developed what we call microbial
developed what we call microbial batteries or microbial fuel cells that
batteries or microbial fuel cells that
batteries or microbial fuel cells that take advantage of microorganisms and
take advantage of microorganisms and
take advantage of microorganisms and their mechanisms and their reactions to
their mechanisms and their reactions to
their mechanisms and their reactions to produce energy from waste waters to
produce energy from waste waters to
produce energy from waste waters to produce electricity from waste waters we
produce electricity from waste waters we
produce electricity from waste waters we can think about similar process
can think about similar process
can think about similar process developing a microbial battery to use
developing a microbial battery to use
developing a microbial battery to use methane to generate electricity
methane to generate electricity
methane to generate electricity this power could be used on site or it
this power could be used on site or it
this power could be used on site or it could be pumped into the electrical grid
could be pumped into the electrical grid
could be pumped into the electrical grid conversely electricity has the potential
conversely electricity has the potential
conversely electricity has the potential to be used in a microbial system to
to be used in a microbial system to
to be used in a microbial system to produce methane directly this could be
produce methane directly this could be
produce methane directly this could be used when surplus power is available and
used when surplus power is available and
used when surplus power is available and we will have surplus power as we expand
we will have surplus power as we expand
we will have surplus power as we expand our solar power production I recently
our solar power production I recently
our solar power production I recently obtained some funding from the National
obtained some funding from the National
obtained some funding from the National Science Foundation to study novel
Science Foundation to study novel
Science Foundation to study novel methane oxidizing bacteria and some
methane oxidizing bacteria and some
methane oxidizing bacteria and some colleagues on this project are
colleagues on this project are
colleagues on this project are interested in value-added products from
interested in value-added products from
interested in value-added products from methane perhaps the most obvious example
methane perhaps the most obvious example
methane perhaps the most obvious example the most obvious chemical is methanol
the most obvious chemical is methanol
the most obvious chemical is methanol methanol is a liquid fuel that can be
methanol is a liquid fuel that can be
methanol is a liquid fuel that can be much more easily transported and stored
much more easily transported and stored
much more easily transported and stored than methane it also has a number of
than methane it also has a number of
than methane it also has a number of industrial uses my colleagues are
industrial uses my colleagues are
industrial uses my colleagues are interested in biodegradable polymers
interested in biodegradable polymers
interested in biodegradable polymers these are chemicals that are produced by
these are chemicals that are produced by
these are chemicals that are produced by bacteria that can be used to substitute
bacteria that can be used to substitute
bacteria that can be used to substitute for plastics and do not last forever
for plastics and do not last forever
for plastics and do not last forever when they’re released into the
when they’re released into the
when they’re released into the environment these bacteria also have the
environment these bacteria also have the
environment these bacteria also have the potential to produce proteins for either
potential to produce proteins for either
potential to produce proteins for either medical or biotech
medical or biotech
medical or biotech logical uses finally as we improve our
logical uses finally as we improve our
logical uses finally as we improve our understanding of methane transformation
we can get a better idea a clear picture
we can get a better idea a clear picture of the factors that limit methane
of the factors that limit methane
of the factors that limit methane release to the atmosphere environmental
release to the atmosphere environmental
release to the atmosphere environmental scientists are always looking for better
scientists are always looking for better
scientists are always looking for better ways to predict the flux of greenhouse
ways to predict the flux of greenhouse
ways to predict the flux of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere so they can
gases to the atmosphere so they can
gases to the atmosphere so they can determine what sort of changes in human
determine what sort of changes in human
determine what sort of changes in human activities are needed to slow down
activities are needed to slow down
activities are needed to slow down climate change thank you for your
climate change thank you for your
climate change thank you for your attention
attention
attention [Applause]
”
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