Fart Like a Kangaroo (and Save the Climate, Too)

Back to blog

Global warming by methane

Congratulations on your new blog, which I just learned about. I'm interested in climate change in general and methane in particular.The possibility that warming of the Arctic will release methane from under Siberian permafrost scares James Hansen (and me). I think it is very unlikely that we will ever stop global warming by reducing the rate at which we put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We have to use geoengineering, such as putting sunlight-blocking materials in the stratosphere, as proposed by T.M.L.Wigley in Science 314, 452, 20 October 2006. A fleet of 100 modified Concorde airplanes could stop global warming for several decades for $10 billion per year. For details please see http://home.comcast.net/~RoyCWard/GlobalWarming.html.

Roy C. Ward of CO @ Jan 08, 2008 18:54:07 PM

There's a simpler way to achieve pretty much the same goal. Cows and sheep that eat pasture land grasses, instead of concentrated cow chow, don't emit significantly more gasses than kangaroos do. It's what they were evolved/created to eat.

However, it would require that the cattle industry operate less like rural factories and more like, well, ranchers, so I don't expect to see a change any time soon.

of MI @ Jan 07, 2008 09:54:47 AM

Link headlines.

The dictionary is full of clear and appropriate words. Your headline was intended to be vulgar, and you achieved your purpose!! It is sad to be assulted by such language on my opening page. Your link will be removed.

Virginia of CA @ Jan 05, 2008 15:16:12 PM

Back to blog

Add Your Thoughts
About You

Thinking Harder

This blog is the public workshop of U.S. News writer and editor Ben Harder. In articles published in the magazine, he has covered a range of sciences, including medicine, human behavior, prehistory, and evolution. Here, he can explore those and other scientific fields more fully and more informally than is possible in print. He'll share whatever seems noteworthy or potentially useful, and he invites readers to do the same.

WTOP Audio
On Feb. 24, 2008, Ben discussed the link between artificial light and cancer on WTOP radio. Listen to the interview at WTOP News. He again talked about light pollution on WTOP on March 22, exploring its environmental effects.

advertisement

National Science Foundation

NSF

Wolves, Moose and Soil Nutrients: The Unexpected Connection

Researchers were startled to discover "hot spots" of forest fertility.

Predicting Who Will Survive Skin Cancer

Using new techniques, researchers may now be able to predict the survivability of skin cancer.

Record Highs Far Outpace Lows Across U.S.

Daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the past decade.

Science Discoveries

Science Discoveries

iTunes icon RSS icon

Subscribe

U.S. News Digital Weekly

A weekly insider's guide to politics and policy — in a multimedia, digital format. 52 issues for $19.95!

U.S. News & World Report

6 months of U.S. News & World Report's print edition for only $15. Save up to 67% off the cover price!