Two weeks ago, Japan announced the successful recovery of methane hydrates from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Methane hydrates are curious substances, appearing slushy or icy but flammable in the presence of a flame. Deposits of methane hydrates could be a vast—but carbon heavy—energy source.
National Geographic News has put together a nice slideshow around Japan’s discovery, including shots of burning methane hydrate alongn with the curious worms that feed on chemosynthetic bacteria which in turn thrive on hydrates.