Large-Scale Algae Biofuels Currently Unsustainable, New Report Concludes

ScienceInsider ^ | 24 October 2012 | Robert F. Service

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Heck if the USA could actually exploit the green river basin in wyoming, the USA could wipe out the federal debt” <<

All 146 trillion? - not holding my breath.

[jwsea55]

Hard time imagining how that type of all encompassing patent would have been swallowed by the Founding Fathers. That is just designed to stifle without innovation.

3D printing is utterly fascinating. Talking about a truly revolutionary technology. All of the sudden we can get real time prototyping (well, maybe in one day). It will be interesting to see an auto company push this envelope. Toyota started developing the FR-S/GTS in 2007 and released it in May of this year.

At some point 3D got to change funding envelope for the VC world. Throw a designer with CAD expertise next to the conference room. Lock the inventor in with him. Do real time consumer testing. You could have a product ready for production in very short order.

[jwsea55]

yeah but I’ll tell you what. I think that coal is part of what made england king in the 19th century. they were energy independent. the instant they switched to oil they started going down hill. again late in the 20th century when the north sea was producing oil big time —england’s fortunes increased. as oil production in the north sea has declined so has england. meanwhile norway with much more capacity just keeps on trucking.

I always got the feel that England's downfall started around the War of 1812, when those pesky insurrections were bothering them while they were fighting a real war. By the time of Victoria, it was tea and crumpets time. Not that I can recommend reading The Prize by Yergin (since everyone I have loaned the book to takes about 6 months to read it), modern history told through oil is interesting. After reading it, is easier to understand that England just sort of slid into living off its past. One of the other interesting points in the book, I think there were 5 times in history we were a couple of years away from no more oil.

Now we live in an utterly fascinating time in history with what is going on with energy. You had the sea water to fuel article. The stuff that I have seen on hydrogen generation is mind blowing if it is ever realized/commercialized.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the interesting comments & links.

[ckilmer]

All 146 trillion? - not holding my breath.

Not 146 trillion but certainly 16 trillion. Your talking about all unfunded liabilities. I’m just talking about the national debt.

[ckilmer]

All 146 trillion? - not holding my breath.

Not 146 trillion but certainly 16 trillion. Your talking about all unfunded liabilities. I’m just talking about the national debt.

[editor-surveyor]

I’m talking about the near or in default bonded sovereign debt of the US. (including the states and their subdivisions)

146 trillion is conservative.