Deep beneath the waves off Italy’s Tuscan coast, ancient microorganisms are consuming methane bubbling up from cracks in the seafloor. Now, James Henriksen, an environmental microbiologist at NREL, and his colleagues are investigating whether these tiny creatures could help address the global challenge of climate change.
The Power of Methanotrophs
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with far greater heat-trapping power than carbon dioxide. While most atmospheric methane comes from bogs, landfills, and livestock, certain microbes called methanotrophs actually consume it.
The collective impact of these organisms is remarkable. Henriksen explained that, “Globally, all of the methanotrophs on the planet are consuming many times the amount of methane that humans are releasing into the atmosphere.”
This natural methane consumption suggests Earth would be significantly warmer without these microorganisms. It also raises an intriguing question: if these microbes could be encouraged to work harder, might they help cool the planet?
Hunting for Extreme Microbes
Henriksen has joined forces with microbiologist Braden Tierney and genomic scientist Krista Ryon to explore Earth’s most extreme environments in search of unique methanotrophs. Together, they founded the Two Frontiers Project, a nonprofit organization that explores whether microbes from volcanic seeps, hot springs, and other harsh environments can offer solutions to climate challenges.
Their expeditions have taken them from Colorado’s hot springs to volcanic underwater seeps near Sicily, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. This past summer, the team dove into the Tyrrhenian Sea off Italy’s western coast, where mud volcanoes on the seafloor release methane into the water.
Working in challenging conditions, including processing samples in their Airbnb, the researchers collected 43 samples containing potential methane-eating microbes. These samples were shipped to Henriksen’s laboratory at Colorado State University, where the microbes are now being fed methane and studied as they grow.
Why These Microbes Matter
Methanotrophs are notoriously difficult to cultivate and study. Some cannot survive oxygen exposure, while others work only in symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Scientists are still discovering new species, with methane-eating bacteria themselves only being identified a few years ago.
The challenge now is determining how to harness these microbes effectively. The most straightforward approaches to reducing atmospheric methane involve preventing its release, like fixing pipeline leaks, diverting organic waste from landfills, and modifying livestock feed. However, these methods aren’t being implemented widely enough to significantly reduce emissions.
Several research groups and companies are now exploring microbial solutions. The University of Washington is developing devices that would pump air through tanks of microbial cultures to remove methane. California startup Windfall Bio is using methanotrophs to convert excess methane into fertilizer, with recent trials at landfills and dairy farms.
Early Promise from Italy
Initial analysis of the Two Frontiers team’s Italian samples shows encouraging results. Among their discoveries is a symbiotic combination of algae and bacteria that appears to use both sunlight and methane for growth. This type of microbial partnership could potentially help capture methane emissions from rice fields, a major source of the greenhouse gas.
The team continues to analyze their samples while planning their next expedition to explore land-based mud volcanoes in drier climates.
The Bigger Picture
While methane-eating microbes show promise, significant hurdles remain. Scaling up microbial methane removal would require processing enormous volumes of air, which demands substantial energy. If that energy comes from fossil fuels, it could undermine the climate benefits.
Still, as researchers continue discovering new methanotroph species and better understanding their capabilities, these ancient organisms may yet play a role in addressing modern climate challenges. The work being done at Colorado State and partner institutions worldwide represents an innovative approach to one of humanity’s most urgent problems.
To learn more about the Two Frontiers Project, visit their website at twofrontiers.org.
Original reporting: Raymond Zhong, The New York Times, October 6, 2025
