Methane

Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that's the simplest alkane hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. It's a major energy source in natural gas but poses environmental risks as a potent greenhouse gas that warms the planet far more efficiently than carbon dioxide over short timescales. In today's world, it's a hot topic in climate discussions, from fracking debates to efforts to reduce emissions from agriculture.