Hydrogen Reserves Hidden Underground Could Power Earth for Two Centuries
A vast reserve of hydrogen gas buried beneath Earth’s crust has been estimated to hold trillions of tons of this clean energy source. Scientists suggest that even a small portion of this hidden hydrogen could meet global energy needs for the next 200 years, potentially reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. While the exact locations of these reserves remain unclear, preliminary studies point to immense quantities, indicating significant implications for future energy systems and sustainable development.
Massive Hydrogen Reserves Identified
According to a recent study published in Science Advances, an estimated 6.2 trillion tons of hydrogen could be trapped within rocks and underground reservoirs. This figure vastly exceeds the total oil reserves globally, with hydrogen quantities calculated to be 26 times greater than the remaining crude oil. Despite the enormous potential, much of this hydrogen is believed to lie at depths or locations that may prove inaccessible or economically unviable for extraction.
Key Insights from the Study
Geoffrey Ellis, a petroleum geochemist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), emphasised to space.com that a mere 2 percent of these hydrogen stocks could supply sufficient energy to achieve global carbon neutrality for approximately two centuries. Ellis explained that natural hydrogen is produced through various geological processes, including the breakdown of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
Unlike hydrogen derived from water electrolysis, which requires renewable or fossil energy sources, natural hydrogen found underground is self-generated and stored naturally in reservoirs. This reduces the need for additional energy-intensive storage systems, as the gas can be tapped on demand.
Challenges and Uncertainty in Exploration
Significant challenges persist in determining the precise locations of these underground hydrogen deposits. The study acknowledged that estimates ranged widely, from 1 billion to 10 trillion tons, due to the limitations of the modelling approach. Efforts are underway to refine criteria for identifying viable hydrogen reserves.
If recoverable, natural hydrogen could play a transformative role in global energy systems, with research into its accessibility set to continue in the coming years. Scientists are focusing on narrowing geologic markers to pinpoint reserves more effectively, with further findings expected in 2024.
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In June 2024, scientists detected a mysterious, powerful burst of radio waves originating from within our galaxy. At first, they thought it was coming from a pulsar or another undiscovered cosmic object. However, an analysis revealed the origin of the signal was too close to the Earth. Astronomers think it was caused by a long-dead NASA satellite Relay 2, was launched in 1964 but ceased operations in 1967 after its communication systems failed. Yet, nearly 60 years later, it mysteriously emitted a powerful radio signal, the researchers said in a new preprint study, which was posted June 13 to the server arXiv and has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Relay 2: A Silent Satellite Sends a Loud Signal
According to the study, the signal was detected using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope array. These intense flashes typically originate from deep space and can carry more energy in milliseconds than the sun emits over several days.
But this signal, lasting just 30 nanoseconds, was traced back to the vicinity of Earth, too close for ASKAP to focus on clearly. After ruling out cosmic sources, the team traced the pulse to the orbit of Relay 2. Despite having no functioning systems, the satellite somehow emitted the brightest radio flash in the sky at that moment.
Researchers proposed two theories: a micrometeorite impact that created a radio-emitting plasma cloud, or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) caused by charge buildup on the satellite’s aging materials.
New Clues About Spacecraft Behavior and Space Debris
Though both mechanisms could produce similar signals, scientists lean toward electrostatic discharge as the likelier cause. According to space physicists, older spacecraft like Relay 2 may be especially prone to such energy releases due to outdated materials and limited shielding.
Karen Aplin told New Scientist that studying these accidental emissions could help monitor ESD events on today’s small satellites — many of which also lack advanced protection. In an increasingly crowded orbital environment, this detection method may offer a novel tool for evaluating space debris and satellite health.
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The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured its first direct image of a newly discovered exoplanet. Astronomers announced that Webb imaged a Saturn-mass planet orbiting the nearby young star TWA 7. Dubbed TWA 7 b, the planet’s mass is only about 0.3 times that of Jupiter – roughly Saturn’s mass – making it the smallest planet ever seen via direct imaging. Most of the nearly 6,000 known exoplanets have been detected indirectly. To spot TWA 7 b, the JWST team used a coronagraph (like a solar eclipse) to block the star’s light and reveal the faint planet.
Detecting a Hidden World
According to the study published in the journal Nature, Webb’s team targeted TWA 7 because its dusty disk is viewed nearly face-on, revealing clear ring structures. They used Webb’s MIRI instrument with a coronagraph to mask the star’s glare. After processing the data, a faint infrared point source appeared roughly 1.5 arcseconds from TWA 7 (about 50 times the Earth–Sun distance).
This source lies in a gap of the star’s second dust ring. Its brightness and color match what theoretical models predict for a young, cold planet roughly Saturn’s mass. The object seems to be carving out the ring gap just as an orbiting planet would. Astronomers ruled out other explanations (like a background star) to confirm the signal is best explained by a planet.
A Step Toward Smaller Worlds
TWA 7 b’s Saturn-like mass makes it about ten times less massive than any exoplanet previously captured in a direct image. Its discovery shows that Webb can now image worlds far smaller than the giant exoplanets seen before. Scientists say the telescope may eventually detect planets as light as 10% of Jupiter’s mass, pushing toward Earth-like size.
This breakthrough “paves the way” to imaging truly terrestrial planets in the future. Astronomers even predict that upcoming observatories could dramatically increase the number of Earth-size planets seen by direct imaging. Next-generation telescopes – on the ground and in space – are being planned with even more powerful coronagraphs to hunt for the first directly photographed Earth analogues.
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