News in Brief Climate

Methane didn’t warm ancient Earth, new simulations suggest

Alternative explanation needed for why planet didn’t freeze despite dim sun

illustration of ancient earth

DIM SUN  Scarce oxygen and abundant sulfate prevented methane concentrations from getting high enough to explain why Earth didn’t freeze over around 1.8 billion to 800 million years ago when the sun was dimmer, researchers say.

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By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

Methane wasn’t the cozy blanket that kept Earth warm hundreds of millions of years ago when the sun was dim, new research suggests.