Ever wondered what it takes to spark a flame 1,522 meters below sea level? 🤯 At the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games in Guangzhou, the Chinese mainland unveiled a record-breaking “source flame” straight from combustible ice on the South China Sea floor. Talk about next-level ceremonies! 🔥
Here’s the scoop: Their secret sauce is a method called “sky-sea interconnection.” First, a homegrown deep-sea robot named Haima (aka Seahorse) dives down and scoops up chunks of natural gas hydrate—commonly called combustible ice—using its mechanical arm. Then, in a sealed chamber, the ice breaks down and releases pure methane gas. 💨
The real twist? Solar panels on the mothership capture sunlight and convert it into electricity, sending power through cables to the robot. Deep underwater, that spark sets the methane ablaze, creating the world’s deepest Olympic-style flame. ⚡
But what is combustible ice, anyway? Think of it as nature’s supercharged freezer. Under high pressure and freezing temps, methane gas and water form a crystal-like solid. One cubic meter of this stuff can generate up to 164 cubic meters of methane—making it a potent, low-carbon energy source. 🌍💚
Beyond the flash, this feat shows how the Chinese mainland is pushing the limits of deep-sea energy tech. As we chase cleaner power alternatives, methane hydrates could be game-changers—kind of like harvesting diamonds, but for fuel that’s kinder to our planet. 😎
For tech lovers and eco-warriors alike, this is proof that the future of energy might just be buried beneath our oceans. Ready to dive in? 🚀
Reference(s):
1,522 meters down: China ignites world's deepest Olympic style flame
cgtn.com
