Excuse me! Burping bacteria cause La Brea tar pits to bubble

The mystery of the La Brea tar pits constant bubbling has been solved. A previously unknown bacteria is consuming the natural asphalt and emitting methane gas as a byproduct. Scientist feel that the bacteria could be used to clean up oil spills etc.

A newly discovered bacteria is bubbling in the goo at La Brea tar pits.

The bacteria in natural asphalt munch on petroleum at the popular site and burp up methane gas, University of California, Riverside, researchers said.

Previously, educators suspected the methane bubbles were a byproduct of oil creation 1,000 feet below the surface.

sfgate.com.../n/a/2007/05/14/state/n105234D52.DTL

Originally posted by FredT
The mystery of the La Brea tar pits constant bubbling has been solved. A previously unknown bacteria is consuming the natural asphalt and emitting methane gas as a byproduct. Scientist feel that the bacteria could be used to clean up oil spills etc.

I may be wrong, but I thought methane was worse than CO2 for a greenhouse gas effect? It would clean up the oil spill but would also cause damage itself.