Algae Isn’t All Smoke and Mirrors

I’m sure everyone is aware of the amazing properties of algae. Prepare to gain newfound respect for our small flora, they could be the next biodiesel crops. Fed a generous helping of CO2-laden emissions, lets say ……. courtesy of a power plant’s exhaust stack, the algae cleans the exhaust and grows at phenominal rates. After the CO2 is soaked up like a sponge, the algae is harvested daily. From that harvest, a combustible vegetable oil is squeezed out i.e. biodiesel for automobiles. Additionally the exhaust contains 40 percent less CO2 (a larger cut than the Kyoto treaty mandates) and another bonus, 86 percent less nitrous oxides. What a little workhorse.

Creater, Berzin of MIT calculates the biodiesel crop potential at 15,000 gallons per acre. To put that in perspective soybeans (currently the major source of biodiesel fuels) produce just 60 gallons per acre. Berzin isnt alone in the algae-to-oil race. Competiator (yes people compete over this stuff) Greenshift Corporation, a Mount Arlington, N.J., technology incubator company, licensed CO2-gobbling algae technology that uses a screen-like algal filter. It was developed by David Bayless, a researcher at Ohio University. One can only hope more competing algae will result in good things.

Ontario Government to Patch up Smokers

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable deaths in Canada, and the Ontario government wants that to change. The province, along with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to give 14, 000 smokers nicotine patches or gum to help them quit.

If you are a smoker in Ontario you can call 1 800-350-5305 for an interview to see if you can qualify. Those that get chosen for the study will get the gum or patches sent to them for five weeks, and will have to complete some follow up studies a few months after that.

2.9 Billion for the Sun, Care of The Govinator

a good source of energyCalifornia is launching the United State’s largest solar incentive program. The incentives to get consumers to switch to solar power for heating, electricity generation, and even solar cooling, won’t be put into action until 2007.

“The money will be used for rebates for solar photovoltaics, solar water heating, and solar heating and cooling systems over 10 years, with 10 percent of the money slated for low-income customers and affordable-housing projects.”

Women Gain Independence in Pakistan

Necessity is proclaimed to be the mother of invention, and in quake-hit Pakistan, necessity also seems to advance human rights. Women in Pakistan have traditionally been granted few freedoms, but the recent surge of NGOs and the need for money have both provided women with chances to work – something unimaginable a few years ago.

It’s comforting to see that even if disaster good things can happen.

From the article:

Rights workers say there has been a big change in attitudes towards women and work.

“It is a sudden and vast change,” said Raja Nawaz, project coordinator with the International Human Rights Observer organisation.

“Before this disaster, it was very difficult to get females to work in the private sector or in the NGO sector. It’s astonishing that women have started working outside their homes.”

Powerful, Portable, Methanol Machines

Fuel cells are often said to be the next leap in power supplies for cars, busses, and other generally large consumers of power, but that is not where most consumers will first use a fuel cell. Methanol-based fuel cells are being used in MP3 players and other handheld electronics already. Using hydrogen, in a very controlled state, the batteries can last over 60 hours.

The catch is that these new batteries are expensive, but with more advanced consumer electronics coming out that require more juice, it seems that the time is rife for these longer-lasting and reusable batteries.