Scientists turn methane into medicine in stunning breakthrough

Natural gas is one of the most plentiful energy resources on Earth. It is made mostly of methane, along with ethane and propane. Today, it is primarily burned for heat and electricity, a process that releases greenhouse gases. For years, researchers and industry leaders have tried to find ways to convert these simple hydrocarbons directly into useful chemicals instead of burning them. The challenge is that methane and similar gases are extremely stable and do not react easily, whic...