Newest Energy Source — Pond Scum

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that several start up companies include one from MIT are looking at using (both natural and engineered) algae as source of bio-fuel. Since algae grows quickly and absorbs green house gases. From the article "Soybeans can give you 50 to 60 gallons of oil an acre compared to 75 to 125 gallons for canola, but algae is almost limitless because it grows so fast, so potentially you could get 10,000 gallons per acre."

even so

[Anonymous Coward]

my wife is still going to insist i clean up the pond out back

They found a use for Pond Scum?

[Kid Zero]

Next they'll be finding a use for lawyers!

(Oh yeah, I'm burning for that one! :D)

Fish tank power for my PC!!!

[MrTester]

How excellent is this!!!

Now I can move my fish tank next to my PC, I never have to clean the damned thing, and I have un interupted power source for my computer!

This is the best discovery EVER!

Re:They found a use for Pond Scum?

[Archangel Michael]

Actually, they have found a use for Lawyers ... as source of nutrients for Pond Scum.

Re:DoE research on biodiesel from algae from '78-'

[baldass_newbie]

Wow.
This algae idea could grow on me.

Re:DoE research on biodiesel from algae from '78-'

[forkazoo]

If that was in 1998, then at should be very feasible with current petrol costs, especially taking into account the added value of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

The problem is, taking into account inflation, in constant dollars, oil costs less today than it did 30 years ago. Yes, even at $4/gallon. So the project is still not worth doing.

So, what's it like posting from 2028?

Re:Severe Lack of 4th Dimensional Thinking

[DigitalRaptor]

Just once.

The algae actually produces the fuel as it bores it's way to the center of the earth. Then you have to start over again with a different acre.

Uh

[ch-chuck]

Doesn't every friggin plant on earth absorb 'greenhouse gases', i.e., co2, and emits o2 ???

The misguided attempt to reduce co2 is actually a secret war on our little green friends. They hate plants!!

re: Newest Energy Source -- Pond Scum

[Anonymous Coward]

Newest Energy Source -- Pond Scum

Question: which politicians volunteered their bodies for this project?

I love this topic, however...

[alex_guy_CA]

I've had plenty of time to read it as it has been posted 5 times before.

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/1 2/0215234/ [slashdot.org]

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/01/1 1/1718256/ [slashdot.org]

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/ 29/2241247/ [slashdot.org]

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/2 5/1838201/ [slashdot.org]

and

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/02/2 2/0810225/ [slashdot.org]