Summary:
- Researchers have discovered that plankton, microscopic marine organisms, emit a previously unknown greenhouse gas called dimethyl sulfide (DMS). This finding challenges current climate models that do not account for this natural source of DMS.
- The study suggests that as the climate warms, the increased production of DMS by plankton could have a negative feedback effect, helping to cool the planet by increasing cloud cover and reflecting more sunlight back into space.
- This discovery highlights the complex and interconnected nature of marine ecosystems and their role in regulating the Earth's climate, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive understanding of these processes to improve climate predictions.