My Science School

Although new areas of gas are being found from time to time, we are using up our known supplies of natural gas very quickly. Scientists are now looking for alternative sources of natural gas. They are also trying to find fuels that do not cause as much pollution.

There are natural gas supplies deep in the Arctic ice.

This natural gas has been found in wet snow and ice. The Arctic could be a useful new source of natural gas. However, extracting the gas might seriously damage the natural balance of the area.

New ways of drilling for gas do not damage the natural environment.

Powerful laser beams of light can be used to drill into the ground. This causes less pollution than a huge mechanical drill. Instead of building offshore rigs, robotic machines are sent to the bottom of the ocean.

Seaweed can be turned into gas.

Ocean plants, such as sea kelp, can be turned into methane gas that we can burn for energy. Sea kelp farms have been set up in the ocean to grow the seaweed. In the future, huge kelp farms could produce renewable gas energy.