World May End with a Toot Rather than a Bang or a Whimper

Latest doomsday scenario comes to us via the Grauniad where we are told that some scientists believe that an expellation of methane from the Siberian seabed - a sort of global fart if you like. Now methane is 21 times more potent as a heat trap than carbon dioxide so the end result, if you'll pardon the phrase, could be a rapid early onset of extreme global warming. Methane released from the seabed is, according to the article, mostly consumed by micro-organisms but a major trump could make it into the atmosphere where it could precipitate a rapid acceleration of atmospheric warming. As apocalyptic visions go this is one of the best. The idea that this noble endeavour we call a planet could terminate with one gloriously all-enveloping fart just goes to prove my suspicion that the Supreme Being has a truly galactic sense of humour.

As a footnote it also proves that the West Virginian police who charged an individual for farting with extreme prejudice were so obviously ahead of the curve on this one.

As a verruca-note (below footnote) that charged has been er... dropped on instructions from the assistant prosecutor. Probably for lack of tangible evidence.

Ya couldn't make it up!