Chasing Hydrogen

Over the past few years, hydrogen has become a real social issue, with more and more reports on the subject and its use spreading in both transport and aerospace. But while its industrial production comes at the cost of heavy pollution, the discovery of natural hydrogen reservoirs around the world is raising hopes of an energy transition away from fossil fuels.

But what do we really know about this gas? What role does it play in the cycle of life? Is it a finite or renewable resource? Sometimes described as a miracle solution to the climate crisis, sometimes as an ecological mirage, natural hydrogen is above all a mystery, for the general public and researchers alike.

The race is on to expand our knowledge on hydrogen, before the industry gets hold of it. Current scientific missions promise a better understanding of our planet’s mechanisms, at a time when it is crucial to reconcile the exploitation of resources with the preservation of living organisms.