Possible Breakthrough In Hydrogen Energy 326
destinyland writes "MIT researchers have developed a method of splitting a water molecule by emulating the way blue-green algae separates oxygen from hydrogen. One chemistry professor called it 'an extremely clever piece of work' that addresses 'the nanoscale organization of the components.' Using sunlight rather than electricity to make hydrogen from water could greatly improve the efficiency of the process. The hydrogen can be stored for generating electricity or burned as fuel for cars. The project is being led by the winner of a 2004 MacArthur Foundation genius grant, who uses genetically engineered viruses as templates for nanoscale electronic components. 'Suddenly, I wondered, what if we could assemble materials like the abalone does — but not be limited to one element?'" Here is the press release from MIT; the research paper is available only to subscribers of Nature Nanotechnology (or those willing to part with $18).
What happens at night? (Score:5, Funny)
Using sunlight rather than electricity [...]
What happens if I run out of hydrogen at night?
it's nothing, kapitalist dogs! (Score:3, Funny)
Not so fast . . . (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Not so fast . . . (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Over-rated (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks Sheldon, say hi to Penny for me.
Re:which is better (Score:3, Funny)
Then its a bit like putting the Earth at the focus of a mirror. We would need to find a source of cooling at the same time. Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers.
Two heads and your brain in your ass?
Re:What happens at night? (Score:5, Funny)
What happens if I run out of hydrogen at night?
You have to make H while the sun shines.
Re:What happens at night? (Score:3, Funny)
You have to make H while the sun shines.
And where the sun doesn't shine, you can always make CH4...
Beat my idea (Score:5, Funny)
Damn, I thought i had the perfect way of breaking water molecules up: lending them to teenagers while saying 'be careful with these molecules' . Sadly, when it came to harvesting the hydrogen atoms, they had become lost or 'there was no atoms in the molecules' or 'what water molecules?'.
Re:I like my consumer electronics virus-free (Score:5, Funny)
What could possibly go wrong?!
Nothing. Didn't you notice the word 'harmless' appear twice in TFA? That was all the reassurance I needed. I'm sure the chance of the virus invading your body and splitting apart your molecules when you step out into the sunlight is very close to zero.
Re:What happens at night? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:which is better (Score:4, Funny)
Re: Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers. (Score:4, Funny)
Inventing Stepping Disks, the Quantum II Hyperdrive, and the General Products Hulls?
No, we should really try to avoid that ; ).
Re: Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers. (Score:4, Funny)
Dr. Belcher (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Nanoscale Viruses? (Score:4, Funny)
Why do you sign your name on your posts when it's right there in the username, or could be put in your signature? I'm merely curious :P
Re:What happens at night? (Score:5, Funny)
I already do this.
I story my hydrogen in a liquid for ease of use. This way I can use hoses to get it to my engine where I then allow it back into a vapor form (by pushing it through small nozzles at about 135 bar.
My storage method is really cool:
I stick 34 hydrogen atoms onto a chain of 16 atoms of element 6.
Best thing is that this method of storage is nearly explosion proof, even with a 20% oxygen atmosphere around my fuel storage, I can put a lit match out in it while it is in it's liquid state. It is only under extreme pressure that it detonates, and that is how I drive my car.