Where does methane come from?

[talasiga]

@chas

… I haven’t heard anything since.

How on earth do you manage music?

[oleorezinator]

one possible source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXod1JglqdU

[Pammy]

@chas

I remember seeing in Science, probably about 15 years ago, that some people (and presumably other mammals) have gut flora that produce hydrogen instead of methane. IIRC, these folks had lower rates of some types of cancer due to the extreme anti-oxidant properties of hydrogen. There was also some talk about trying to introduce those microbes into cows to reduce the amount of methane produced by ranching. I haven’t heard anything since.

I wonder if people with stinky wind have a higher incidence of cancer?

[Pammy]

@fearfaoin

@Pammy

I, and obviously the scientists, don’t know exactly where the methane comes from. It can’t just be magic’d into existence. Alchemy or what?

It’s Chemistry’d into existence. “Methane” is
the name we give the molecule CH4, which
means there is one carbon atom bonded to
four Hydrogen atoms. Carbon and Hydrogen
atoms are in us and the food we eat and the
bacteria in our digestive systems, but those
atoms are bound up in other molecules, like
glucose and DNA. So, the methane isn’t in
the grass the cows eat, but the building
blocks to make the methane is.

We (or bacteria) use chemical reactions to
break down the large molecules in food into
other, smaller molecules that cells can use.
As a result of these chemical reactions, less
useful small molecules, like methane, are
created. Since we don’t have a use for those,
we have to excrete them.

It’s like saying “Is a bookcase in a tree?”
No, but the stuff to make a bookcase is in
the tree.

Now that explains it better. The bacteria somehow combine the carbon and hydrogen atoms in their - whatever they do - and that is where the methane comes from? Is that it?

[dwest]

@Pammy

@chas

I remember seeing in Science, probably about 15 years ago, that some people (and presumably other mammals) have gut flora that produce hydrogen instead of methane. IIRC, these folks had lower rates of some types of cancer due to the extreme anti-oxidant properties of hydrogen. There was also some talk about trying to introduce those microbes into cows to reduce the amount of methane produced by ranching. I haven’t heard anything since.

I wonder if people with stinky wind have a higher incidence of cancer?

Not if they use a good spring tonic every year.

[fearfaoin]

@Pammy

Now that explains it better. The bacteria somehow combine the carbon and hydrogen atoms in their - whatever they do - and that is where the methane comes from? Is that it?

Something like that, yes. I am neither a
biologist nor a chemist, but that is my
(probably oversimplified) understanding.

[SteveShaw]

@fearfaoin

@Pammy

Now that explains it better. The bacteria somehow combine the carbon and hydrogen atoms in their - whatever they do - and that is where the methane comes from? Is that it?

Something like that, yes. I am neither a
biologist nor a chemist.

No, but you purport to write like one. See note above, esp. regarding excretion.

[dwest]

Pammy just read Walter the Farting dog to understand Farts, and take a walk into a marsh and pull a soil core sample to understand anaerobic digestion. This is where much of the methane in the atmosphere originates. Marshes are full of putrescible substances that are decomposed in the absence of oxygen to produce methane. Termite flatulence is composed of varying levels of methane based on species.

[fearfaoin]

@SteveShaw

No, but you purport to write like one. See note above, esp. regarding excretion.

@wikipedia

Many people misuse the term excretion as a euphemism for defecation, and use excrement for feces, but this is biologically incorrect.

My bad. Nothing more dangerous than
a little knowledge.

Was I at least close in the formation of
methane during digestion?

[crookedtune]

Off-topic, (or is it?). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk8_8gweMyc

[s1m0n]

@chas

There was also some talk about trying to introduce those microbes into cows to reduce the amount of methane produced by ranching. I haven’t heard anything since.

Being driven deaf by exploding ruminants was the sad fate for a once-promising musician…

Bullsh!t - the REAL man’s IED.

[dwest]

I think what we are really talking about is “Silent but Deadly” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBzQr_J44oY

[Pammy]

fearfaoin explained it very well indeed. All that talk over peoples heads does nothing for me.
Sometimes you need people who are not biologists or chemists to explain things in easy to understand terms.
Just ask an IT person a simple question and you get rubbish back. I wanted to know what PPPoE stood for and the explanation included something along the lines of - well it’s to do with PPP !!! Cheers mate!!

We need to gather the methane and use it with the resulting oxygen and hydrogen used for something usefull.
Perhaps I should study chemistry

I must look up about the f**ting dog that sounds fun.

It’s still the funniest subject in the world.

There was an out take programme on TV where Peter Sellers as the Pink Panther had to go into a lift and someone windypopped.
They, of course, had to do umpteen takes as they were just in fits of laughter.

[SteveShaw]

@Pammy

fearfaoin explained it very well indeed. All that talk over peoples heads does nothing for me.
Sometimes you need people who are not biologists or chemists to explain things in easy to understand terms.
Just ask an IT person a simple question and you get rubbish back. I wanted to know what PPPoE stood for and the explanation included something along the lines of - well it’s to do with PPP !!! Cheers mate!!

We need to gather the methane and use it with the resulting oxygen and hydrogen used for something usefull.
Perhaps I should study chemistry

Grand. I can’t decide whether it’s the cult of the philistine or the cult of the mediocre you subscribe to.

[talasiga]

@SteveShaw

…
Grand. I can’t decide whether it’s the cult of the philistine or the cult of the mediocre you subscribe to.

SS needs to get things in perspective.
Firstly this is a discussion forum.Therefore, if someone asks a question you should
give a straight, simple answer.
No deviations, extra info., personal insights, repartee, poetry or other banter.
Unimaginative answers are the best.
Attempting to correct something in someone’s else’s post is a SIN
And nothing deep, please - neither deeply silly nor meaningful.

[Denny]

I think that Pammy likes 'em banked off at least one rail

[Doug_Tipple]

Forgive me if I am way off base at this wee hour of the morning, but the the original question can be thought of as an existential question, where does methane come from? Yes, it does come from various forms of chemicals uniting to form a chemical compound. But in a more esoteric sense, there is a lot that we don’t really know about the why’s of chemical evolution. Why do we have the Universie with billions of stars and planetary bodies, such as our earth home, no one knows. It is a big mystery.

[s1m0n]

@Doug_Tipple

Forgive me if I am way off base at this wee hour of the morning, but the the original question can be thought of as an exestential question, where does methane come from? Yes, it does come from various forms of chemicals uniting to form a chemical compound. But in a more esotiric sence, there is a lot thet we don’t really know about the why’s of chemical evoltuion. Why do we have the Universie with billions of stars and planetary bodies, such as our earth home, no one knows. It is a big mysery.

“The universe is one big fart joke” is a cosmology worthy, if I may say so, of the great Pastafarian religion. Well done!

[kkrell]

@s1m0n

“The universe is one big f*rt joke” is a cosmology worthy, if I may say so, of the great Pastafarian religion. Well done!

Well, they do call it the “Big Bang” theory.

[dwest]

Cosmic Farts and Burps have come close to wipping out life on earth mutiple times, it’s no joke.