Natural gas is a naturally occurring combustible gaseous mixture composed primarily of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, typically dominated by methane (CH₄) with varying proportions of ethane, propane, butanes, and higher alkanes, as well as inorganic components such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and helium. It is generated through thermogenic and biogenic processes in sedimentary basins and accumulates in porous rock formations. As a substance, it is characterized by low density, high specific energy content per unit mass, and phase behavior governed by pressure–temperature conditions, making it suitable for pipeline transport, liquefaction (LNG), and use as a feedstock in petrochemical and energy conversion processes.
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is a unique environment in our solar system. It is the only moon (or body beyond Earth) to have a dense, nitrogen-rich atmosphere, and its methane cycle is very similar to Earth's hydrological ...
Planetary Sciences
9 hours ago
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During the Archean Eon—roughly 4 billion years ago—the Earth was a lifeless planet. The atmosphere lacked oxygen, and there were few, if any, organisms to be found anywhere on the globe. Then something incredible happened. ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 12, 2026
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Following the devastating urban fire that broke out in Wajima City after Japan's 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, investigators struggled to identify a clear ignition source, despite widespread destruction and unusual reports ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 9, 2026
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Gas streetlights might look quaint, but researchers at the University of Cincinnati say they are costly, wasteful and release toxic pollutants into the air. In two studies examining their use in Boston, Massachusetts, and ...
Environment
May 29, 2026
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Fertilizers are not just an agricultural input: they are a strategic resource hidden at the center of geopolitical conflict. The US and Israel's war on Iran and the related disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz ...
Agriculture
May 21, 2026
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Field trials in India show that bio-fertilizers containing naturally occurring soil fungi enhance growth in rice plants. This may offer a pathway to reducing farmers' reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and reducing greenhouse ...
Agriculture
May 20, 2026
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Millions more people will face hunger in the coming months if the conflict in the Middle East is not resolved soon, the UN has warned. The price of energy, which instantly affects the cost of producing and transporting food, ...
Environment
May 16, 2026
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More than 50 governments meet in Colombia on Tuesday against the backdrop of the Iran war and a global energy crunch for the first international talks on phasing out planet-heating fossil fuels.
Environment
Apr 28, 2026
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Energy, transport, heating and industrial transition: A major modeling study now provides EU-wide guidance with high sector detail on the required pace of transition to fossil-free technologies. The conclusion is encouraging: ...
Environment
Apr 16, 2026
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It has been said that Persian Gulf countries are both blessed and cursed by their vast oil and gas reserves. Geologic forces over millions of years have meant the region is an energy-rich global flash point, as it is now ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 11, 2026
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