There will be gas: microbes that gobble up heavy oil and spit out natural gas

The World

This summer, British and Canadian researchers plan to test new technology for releasing previously unrecoverable energy trapped in heavy oil deposits. It works by stimulating tiny microbes to chew up the sticky, tar-like heavy oil and metabolize it into natural gas. Guest: Steve Larter, New Castle University, University of Calgary

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?