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Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol
The Times (UK) ^ | June 14, 2008 | Chris Ayres

Posted on 06/14/2008 12:12:56 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Just don’t light up after you take them out for a meal!


41 posted on 06/14/2008 1:47:29 PM PDT by melsec (A Proud Aussie)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
...$140-a-barrel oil (£70) from Saudi Arabia obsolete.

I don't mean to harp but Russia is the world's second largest exporter of oil (that's one country, whereas OPEC is how many?) and they are far more hostile to America than Saudi Arabia is.

42 posted on 06/14/2008 1:48:23 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Obama's a front man. Who's behind him?)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
You could extrapolate this out. If they can make a bug that excretes oil, then, they could create one that excrete gasoline (87 octane).

It's not that much different.

The book about bacteria that ate petrol was “The Plastic Eaters” but I don't remember who wrote it.

Andromeda ate plastic if I remember right.

43 posted on 06/14/2008 1:48:56 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: randog
The "black ooze" comments, after years of experimentation, are proof of that. It's like the "no nukes" crowd. Only time they show up, is on the threads advocating more nuclear power plats for electric, DESPITE the fact that the world is still inflicted with France, which has been nuke dependent for years.
44 posted on 06/14/2008 1:49:23 PM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
The professor's algae produce oil that not only yield more energy than they consume

Well, I washopeful for a moment there... then I read this line. It makes me wonder who is ignorant of the basic laws of physics and chemistry... the interviewee, or the "journalist".

45 posted on 06/14/2008 1:50:44 PM PDT by Teacher317 (Thank you Dith Pran for showing us what Communism brings)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I saw estimates that algae oil will be able to produce 100,000 gallons of fuel grade diesel in one acre of land per year. This technology is now being ran through its prototype tests.


46 posted on 06/14/2008 1:53:28 PM PDT by jonrick46
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To: Teacher317
Well, I was hopeful for a moment there... then I read this line.

Details. You probably don't want to buy my perpetual motion machine, either.

47 posted on 06/14/2008 1:57:02 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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Comment #48 Removed by Moderator

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

?


49 posted on 06/14/2008 2:14:55 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

In the “There will be war” anthologies was a set of stories set after the release of the “Gas bug”, a genetically engineered bacteria that ate all gasoline / petroleum. Threw the world back to dark ages unless you had renewable fuel or ethanol basis.
Glad to see someone working on the alternative.


50 posted on 06/14/2008 2:18:34 PM PDT by tbw2 ("Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" by Tamara Wilhite - on amazon.com)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

“When these “bugs” escape into the environment; how long before the planet is covered in black ooze?”

Great sci-fi movie premise.


51 posted on 06/14/2008 2:24:05 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: jonrick46; Ernest_at_the_Beach
Green Star Report on Algae Demonstration Facility Phase I
52 posted on 06/14/2008 2:33:47 PM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The answer to our prayers, namely the oil supply shortage and the terrorist problem. Turn waste and terrorist into oil. How many miles per terrorist does your car get?


53 posted on 06/14/2008 2:35:23 PM PDT by A. Morgan (VOTE FOR A LIBERAL N' WE'LL BE UP TO OUR NECKS IN ILLEGALS and OUTA' GAS!)
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To: Conan the Librarian

Um...But we DO not only have, but USE a bug that eats oil spills. AND the world didn’t turn into black ooze. But we’re not allowed to use them often. Because the world might turn into black ooze.


54 posted on 06/14/2008 2:35:32 PM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
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To: johnny7; Larry Lucido; Cagey; MotleyGirl70
Call me, we'll do lunch.


55 posted on 06/14/2008 2:36:54 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Life sometimes has those little bonuses. . .


56 posted on 06/14/2008 3:28:30 PM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: cake_crumb; Dog Gone; BenLurkin
From your link....

****************************EXCERPT******************************

Important Information Concerning Algae

 

Algae are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth.

 

Algae-to-biofuels is quickly becoming a hot item. Unfortunately, like many new technology trends nonsense prevails and uninformed investors follow the yellow brick road. However, there is reality emerging.

 

The truth is, that without algae, life on Earth as we know it would not exist. Almost three billion years ago our planet was a hostile place with excess N2, CO2 and toxic gases in the atmosphere until algae in the oceans began to transform CO2 through photosynthesis into oxygen (O2) making the air breathable. Then sunlight split some of the oxygen molecules to recombine into ozone (O3) and created the Ozone Layer, which protected the Earth’s surface from the devastating UV rays from the sun. Therefore, without algae we would not be here today.

 

Today we are calling on algae again to save our planet. It is worth repeating the five major factors that favor algae. These are as follows:

 

1.                  Algae produce 100 times more oil per acre than traditional food oilseed crops (i.e. corn, soy, etc.).

 

2.                  Algae eat CO2, the major Global Warming Gas, and produce oxygen.

 

3.                  Algae require only sunshine and non-drinkable (salt or brackish) water.

 

4.                  Algae do not compete with food crops for either agricultural land or fresh water.

 

5.                  Algae can reproduce themselves and their oil every 6 hours, while it takes Mother Nature millions of years to produce crude oil in the ground.

 

Our civilization must learn quickly to wean itself off crude oil or it will not survive.

 

If you think this statement is not true then let’s talk about engineering and scientific facts and not about political rhetoric. You should consider the following facts:

 

1.                  The three existing mega oil fields of the world (one in Mexico and two in Arab countries) are all exhibiting steep declines in production.

 

2.                  The oil industry finds only one new barrel of oil for every six barrels we burn.

3.                  The U.S. consumes 25% of all the oil produced in the world each day.

 

4.                  The United States has drilled more oil wells than the rest of the World combined yet only possesses 2% of the known oil reserves.

 

5.                  The U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan recently stated at the 2006 U.N. Climate Change Conference “Climate change is not just an environmental issue, as too many people still believe. It is an all-encompassing threat.”                                                                .

Mr. Annan went on to say “This is not science fiction. These are plausible scenarios, based on clear and rigorous scientific modeling. A few diehard skeptics continue to deny global warming is taking place and try to sow doubt. They should be seen for what they are: out of step, out of arguments and out of time.”

 

The above factors present an energy picture that is not sustainable even in the short-term, and it’s getting worst each day.

 

Algae-to-biodiesel can really make a substantial contribution to energy independence and can provide the U.S. with more fuel than soy oil, canola oil or corn oil combined. Algae oil can provide fuel without increasing food prices and algae meal could reduce animal feed prices or possibly even general food prices.

 

In New Mexico alone, the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) estimates that there are 5 billion acre-feet of salt water under the uninhabitable desert sands, which are good for little except growing algae.

 

Green Star Products, along with its Consortium partners, believes it has a decisive lead in the algae-to-biofuels race because it already possesses industrial biodiesel technology and has a technology lead in the production of algae.

 

 

 

57 posted on 06/14/2008 3:34:26 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: cake_crumb

That algae will win out since it eats CO2....


58 posted on 06/14/2008 3:35:28 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

PETA will try to block investigation.


59 posted on 06/14/2008 3:38:14 PM PDT by Tigercap (McCain. For Supreme Court judge nominations and WOT progress if nothing else.)
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To: Red Badger

Can’t wait for the home model hook up to my septic add grass clippings, yard waste, kitchen compost, heck i’d even feed it old cooking oils and motor oil to get diesel fuel out the other end.


60 posted on 06/14/2008 3:40:36 PM PDT by scottteng (Proud parent of a Life scout.)
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