Methane is a simple compound, formed by one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen (CH4). Methane exists as a gas in the environment and is one of the most important fossil fuels for human society. When the methane molecule breaks down, it produces heat. Because of this property, some of our homes are fueled by methane gas, which is used to cook, heat our water, and fuel our furnaces and fireplaces. Methane can also be collected and transformed into electricity, serving as a natural energy source. Methane is also found in animal burps and farts (yes, you read correctly, farts!). Methane is one of the most abundant gases produced in the digestive tract as food is broken down. To summarize, methane is a common atmospheric gas. Remarkably, methane production and breakdown on Earth are processes driven mainly by microorganisms.
Microorganisms (microbes)Very small forms of life including bacteria, fungi, and some diminutive algae. are the smallest life forms known, invisible to unaided eyes. They are found in all habitats and ecosystems on Earth, in our daily surroundings as well as the most hostile and extreme habitats. Although they are extremely small, the diversity and abundance of microorganisms are enormous and remarkable. Recent estimates predict that 90–99% of the microbial species on Earth are still undiscovered [1]. Microbes are the major players in the recycling of organic matterAll cells and substances made by living organisms, including living and dead animals and plants. and important nutrients on Earth. They also regulate the production and breakdown of some atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide, the oxygen we breathe, and of course, methane.
Methane has drawn the attention of the scientific community because its concentration in the atmosphere has almost tripled, since the Industrial Revolution began in the eighteenth century. Importantly, some studies indicate that these recent increases in atmospheric methane are happening more quickly as compared to geological time scales. Suggesting the influence of human activities associated to methane emissions. The problem with increased methane in the atmosphere is that, methane gas has the ability to trap the heat energy from the Sun and prevent this heat energy from returning to space, resulting in something known as the green-house effect. This heat-trapping capacity is very important, because it helps the Earth to stay warm enough to sustain life [2]. However, too much methane accumulation impacts the climate and contributes to global warming. Today, the methane cycle is a major research topic, since we need a deeper understanding of where all the methane on earth comes from and how it is transformed.