A group of scientists has identified a strain of bacteria that can “eat” low concentrations of methane gas, The Guardian reports, citing a University of Washington study. While there are many types of bacteria that can naturally convert methane to CO2 and biomass, the newly discovered strain is the first to do so with lower concentrations of methane, the news outlet explains. The researchers also found that the strain can increase its own numbers and consume methane at faster rates than other bacteria.

Why is this important? Methane has over 85 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after it is released in the atmosphere, and currently accounts for at least 30% of total global heating. Now that a strain has been identified that can convert methane to CO2 at low concentrations, this can be a viable solution for removing methane from landfills, rice fields, oil wells, and other areas with higher methane concentrations compared to the atmosphere. The exhaust from the process can also be pumped into greenhouses to grow produce, earth sciences professor Euan Nisbet told The Guardian. Global heating can be reduced 0.21 C to 0.22 C by removing 0.3 to 1 petagram — or 1 gigaton — of methane by 2050.

Investments in technology and achieving commercialization: “The biggest barrier to implementation is finding ways to increase the methane treatment unit 20-fold,” lead researcher Mary Lidstrom said, adding that thousands of high-functioning reactors would be needed to implement methane-eating bacteria on a mass scale. Running field tests could be within reach within three to four years, according to Lidstrom.

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