yego.me
💡 Stop wasting time. Read Youtube instead of watch. Download Chrome Extension

Chasing Microbes: The Secret Superheroes of Our Planet | National Geographic


2m read
·Nov 11, 2024

There are places all over the world where methane is coming out of the seafloor. This is kind of concerning because methane is a very strong greenhouse gas. We think a lot about carbon dioxide heating up the planet, but methane is about 25 times worse. Anything we could do to understand where that methane is coming from and where it might be going is really important.

These samples are really rare, really exciting, and we gotta preserve as much of the real story as possible. We focus a lot on how humans are causing climate change, and that's a real problem. But we don't even understand the full scope of the natural world to begin with.

To collect these samples, we have Alvin. Alvin is a human-occupied submersible that goes down about 1400 metres below sea level to pick up a chunk of the seafloor to analyze back in the lab. Have a great day!

One of the main things we were after on this expedition was the sediments right around these methane seeps. Microwaves are the smallest type of living organism on the planet, and these aren't the first line of defense against keeping methane from coming out of the seafloor into the atmosphere.

The microbes inside the rocks and the sediment are eating the methane, and that's really important from a greenhouse gas perspective to keep that methane from getting into the water and eventually getting into the atmosphere, where it would heat up the planet. If you're pretty dangerous, we have a very rare chance to sample some of the biology and try to piece together exactly what's happening.

As we learn more about how these microbes are eating methane and how active they are, and where exactly this is happening, we can understand what's happening with our planet and how to prevent greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. This process takes several months, but it looks like they're pretty active; they're eating methane, which is a good sign.

This idea that the world is so expansive on a microbial scale is really exciting. By chasing microbes to the ends of different possibilities, we're finding what life is capable of.

More Articles

View All
16 STOIC SECRETS TO AVOID BEING MANIPULATED | MARCUS AURELIUS | STOICISM
Life can sometimes feel like a maze of relationships, a never-ending journey filled with twists and turns. But have you ever wondered if the people in your life are genuinely there for you or just taking advantage of your kindness? I’ve been there, and I …
Warren Buffett Buys GOLD?
Well, it’s that time again. The 13Fs are out. Uh, so we as the little investors get to have a look at what the big money managers of the world are buying and selling. And definitely the most watched 13F filing is definitely that of Mr. Warren Buffett. Uh…
The 6 BEST Side Hustles That Pay $20-$200 Per Hour
What’s up you guys? It’s Graham here! So chances are, if you clicked on the video, you want to make some extra money. Good news: you came to the right spot. So let’s go over some of my favorite side hustles that pretty much anyone can do in their spare t…
Mary Devotion Around the World | Explorer
[Music] I was approached by National Geographic last year to photograph people’s relationship with Mary. I traveled all around the world to some of the most unexpected places to document this project. I have my own questions about my faith. I was raised C…
My 2024 Financial Position and Investing Goals Explained.
So I’ve been battling with something over the past year. Part of my content from a year or two ago used to be periodic updates on my own financial goals, my personal finances, and the different ways that I’m trying to make money. Generally, those videos w…
Astronaut Mike Massimino Talks with Kids | One Strange Rock
So how do you go Ah ha! How do you think? What happened? You’re rubbing your head. Oh, no. Right here is just aching. It is? Yeah, I don’t know why. Is it the conversation? Like my brain is just so excited. Your brain is so excited? Yeah. I’ve ne…