Introduction – The Discovery – Locations where Methane is Found – Basic Science – How Methane Affects History – How History Affects Methane
ALESSANDRO VOLTA
In his day Volta was an extremely well known scientist . While his primary field of expertise laid in the area of electricity(i.e- the “volt”), he also made significant discoveries in the field of chemistry. The first discovery of the natural production of methane gas is attributed to Alessandro Volta when he collected gas from the stirred up sediment from Lake Maggiore, Italy in 1778. He noticed large bubbles of gas coming to the surface and isolated them for further experimentation. His discovery was actually quite serendipitous in that he was merely on summer vacation, not actively attempting to make such a discovery.