Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Northwestern chemists have discovered a new way to turn natural gas into liquid fuel — and it’s lightning in a bottle.

By harnessing tiny bursts of plasma — or mini “lightning bolts” — in glass tubes submerged in water, the team has successfully converted methane directly into methanol in a single step.

Credit: Alexander Davis with special thanks to Michelle Driscoll

Read more: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/4/bottled-lightning-makes-a-cleaner-fuel?fj=1
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