250 Years of Methane: From Discovery to Global Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the discovery of methane, first reported by Alessandro Volta in 1776 during his studies of combustible gases emitted from marsh environments. This seminal observation initiated the scientific exploration of methane and ultimately contributed to the development of modern gas chemistry, biogeochemistry, and atmospheric science. Two and a half centuries later, methane stands at the intersection of energy systems, Earth system processes, and climate change, underscoring its enduring scientific and societal relevance.

Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon and a key intermediate in the global carbon cycle. It is generated through microbial, thermogenic, and abiotic pathways and is removed primarily by atmospheric oxidation and biological consumption. As the dominant component of natural gas, methane has played a crucial role in meeting global energy demand. At the same time, methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a strong influence on radiative forcing over decadal timescales, making its accurate quantification and effective mitigation a priority for climate research and policy.

Recent decades have witnessed substantial advances in methane science. High-resolution field measurements, isotopic and molecular techniques, and satellite-based remote sensing have improved the detection, attribution, and monitoring of methane emissions across natural and anthropogenic sources. Progress in microbial ecology, geochemistry, and numerical modeling has further refined our understanding of methane production, transport, and oxidation from local to global scales. These developments have highlighted both remaining uncertainties and opportunities for targeted mitigation.

This Special Issue of Methane will bring together different contributions in the form of review articles, research articles, and short communications. Submissions will address fundamental or applied processes and emerging methodologies related to methane (from its production to its use in considering the global warming). 

By commemorating the 250th anniversary of methane’s discovery, the Special Issue would like to acknowledge the historical foundations of the field while emphasizing the need for integrated, interdisciplinary research to support sustainable energy transitions and effective climate strategies in the next decades, for a better future.

Prof. Dr. Patrick Da Costa
Dr. Brad Ridoutt
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Methane is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.