A May 28 explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, visible from kilometers away, has raised questions about methane fuel safety. While the exact cause is unknown, the incident highlights methane's reactivity with oxygen and the challenges of its use as rocket fuel, despite its advantages over liquid hydrogen.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected methane within interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, a finding that challenges existing comet science. The comet also shows an unusual dominance of carbon dioxide and an uneven decline in gas release as it moves away from the Sun, suggesting formation under different conditions than solar system comets.
Die Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) und der Gasbranchenverband DVGW streiten über die Meldung von Methanemissionen. Die DUH wirft dem DVGW vor, mit seinem Online-Tool "GaWaS" Unternehmen zu ermöglichen, umweltschädliche Emissionen falsch zu melden, indem Standardwerte statt eigener Messungen verwendet werden. Der DVGW verteidigt die Praxis als legal und betont die Bedeutung der Gasbranche für die Energieversorgung.
ExxonMobil warns EU's new methane rules, effective 2027, could cut gas supply by 43% and oil by 87% due to stringent reporting requirements, risking higher prices and deindustrialization.
xAI expands Southaven, MS site with 19 more unpermitted gas turbines, totaling 46, despite lawsuit over air permit violations and community health concerns.
In a Zimbabwe domestic cricket match, Scorpions Cricket Club achieved an astonishing 822/4, powered by centuries from Winfed Mutende (203 off 75 balls) and Takunda Madembo (302). Methane Lions collapsed to 28/7, resulting in a record 794-run victory for Scorpions. This score dwarfs previous high totals in List A cricket.
The Commission is poised to weaken enforcement of its methane regulation.
Countries would be able to exempt companies from the rules on energy security grounds, even before major disruption occurs, under draft guidelines seen by POLITICO.
Scientists have discovered mysterious methane emissions, termed 'phantom gas leaks,' releasing from ocean floors in areas far from industrial operations. Using satellite technology and deep-ocean sensors, researchers from the University of Surrey identified unusually high methane plumes in geologically stable regions, likely caused by warming-induced breakdown of methane hydrates. With methane 25 times more potent than CO2, these undetected emissions may mean the global carbon budget is significantly underestimated.
Soil scientists at Tomsk State University discovered that residual small lakes in bowls of descended thermokarst lakes in Russia's Arctic Zone are significant sources of greenhouse gases. The research measured CO2 and methane concentrations across three sites in the Yamal Peninsula region, finding that shallow reservoirs release substantial carbon dioxide fluxes regardless of drainage age. The study suggests these residual basins should be included in climate monitoring and carbon cycle models as Arctic permafrost continues to thaw.
Chris Huhne responds to Nils Pratley's article on UK gas policy, arguing that biomethane represents a third overlooked option between expanding North Sea drilling and increasing LNG imports. He highlights that biomethane is domestic, low carbon, storable and dispatchable, citing the IEA's 2025 Renewables report and examples from Denmark (meeting 40% of gas demand from green gas) and France (20%+ annual growth since 2022). The letter argues the UK lacks political will to scale these alternatives.
