Sir Loin

Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide 'renewable petroleum'


“Ten years ago I could never have imagined I’d be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. “I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to – especially the ones coming out of business school – this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.” He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Mr Pal holds up a small beaker of bug excretion that could, theoretically, be poured into the tank of the giant Lexus SUV next to us. Not that Mr Pal is willing to risk it just yet. He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up on what he calls “renewable petroleum”. After that, he grins, “it’s a brave new world”.

__________________

P/N

I saw this story the other day online. Pretty cool if this is something that will really work. I suppose anyone who dreamed of being a bug farmer when they grew up will get to live their dream.

__________________
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan

GarzaUK

And will these little critters be able to provide the worlds supply of oil, when it runs out? No.

I wish people would stop clinging onto oil for dear life and put money into alternative resources. The oil is going to dry, get used to it. WE have to be prepared.

__________________
EUROPEANS FOR OBAMA 08

MY HOMEPAGE

Reverend_Hellh0und

So finding another source a renewable one is not a solution to you?



I wish people would stop clinging onto peak oil conspiracies for dear life. We have to be prepared for a solution that may include continued use of oil, Now as a renewable source.


Why would that suck for you?

__________________
كافر
Never forget those who died.
Never forget those who killed them.

DarkWizard12

PeteEU just made the "thank you" button worthless. But that still very much was a good post.
Hey..dude, the article says it is RENEWABLE. Yes, I know you hate inanimate objects such as oil and would much prefer big spacious and expensive solar-power, but this oil is renewable. gtf over it.

P/N

I don't believe anyone is claiming that this will supply the world's oil, but it is something worth looking into is it not? The world will always need oil, regardless of what alternatives we come up with.

Now I doubt very seriously that this is something that can be viable on any rational level, but who knows what the future holds other than death and taxes? Did anyone 50 years ago see the internet, microwave ovens or phones smaller than a pack of cigarettes that don't need a wire? This may be something that can be used and it may not, but it shouldn't be summarily dismissed either. Yes we need an alternative fuel and I believe we will get there in the next 3-5 years, but oil will always be needed at some level.

rathi

This is actually quite useful. Oil will probably be phased out for civilian automobiles in the near future, but the military will need to keep it for much longer. This is great, because its renewable oil and it can be done anywhere, allowing for domestic production without relying on foreign products. It also is good research in using bacteria to produce useful materials, a production method that needs more experimenting in order to make even more materials.

__________________
He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield, swinging an axe into somebody's face.

metreon

Great way to supplement oil production, as long as the ability of the bacterium to live in the wild is constrained. Otherwise, massive amounts of toxic chemical pollution could make people ill from coast to coast, possibly destroying land fertility as well.

Knowing the efficiency of such a process would also be useful, so comparisons with other methods could be made. Ultimately people will want to go with whatever costs less per mile, not just what is currently being used.

Since growing the raw material for the fuel would conceivably take an input of energy in growing and harvesting, but presumably less than the energy to grow food crops, it would be interesting to see the entire economic equation for this.

jamesrage

I agree with you on that.I imagine someone that can feed on wood chips and straw in a "farm" can just as easily do that in the wild.I believe this is one of those just because we can doesn't mean we should situations.Something like this could also be used as a weapon.

__________________

Gipper

I hope it's also efficient. I wouldn't want some little bug to eat a whole oak tree only to get a cup of oil out of it.

It's an interesting logic, but I doubt it'll be the "smoking gun" of fossil fuel subsistence.

__________________
A government big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. - Barry Goldwater