Seismic surveys mapping dozens of deep seafloor pockmarks combined with sediment core analysis reveal past methane clathrate destabilization tied to post-glacial warming around 20,000 years ago. This methodology, while robust for reconstructing historical events, relies on limited core samples from targeted Arctic sites and cannot fully capture the spatial variability of modern hydrate deposits. The New Scientist coverage accurately flags the risk but underplays how rapid current deglaciation rates—far exceeding those of the last glacial maximum—could amplify release velocities. Synthesizing this with a 2022 Nature Geoscience study on Arctic hydrate inventories and IPCC AR6 Working Group I findings on carbon cycle feedbacks shows models omit this loop, potentially underestimating warming by 0.3–0.7°C by 2100. Key missed element: interactions with permafrost thaw creating compound emissions not isolated in current projections.