Fuel...

[fajrdrako]

In light of all the problems that need to be solved in this world, I've seen a lot of links to this discovery of fungal fuel. Which sounds... miraculous. The solution to a lot of problems. A holy grail, the item calls it, though it isn't exactly a spiritual breakthrough.

But doesn't it sound too good to be true?

Okay, I live in hope. But I can think of all sorts of things that sounded briefly like the answer to similar or greater problems in the world - fish farms, nuclear fusion, electric cars, hovercraft - but they either didn't work, or caused greater problems than they solved, or were suppressed by vested interests.

Interesting, though.

Comments

[ataniell93.livejournal.com]

It is miraculous, and will if properly handled solve part of the energy crisis, but we still need to learn to do what we do and burn fewer hydrocarbons, because while we will no longer need to fight over oil or rip up the surface of the planet to get at it (assuming this works) I doubt that burning the fuel produced by this fungus is going to be completely clean and un-polluting. We need to use less hydrocarbons not just because they are scarce but because they pollute.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, and there are other ancillary problems - it will be interesting to see what happens.

It could make a big difference.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Exactly. The excess CO2 problem will remains -- and, as well, not all that supposedly waste matter is actually waste. Some of it is currently plowed back in to enrich the soil.

This is clearly MUCH better than continuing with the tar sands development for the places we actually need oil, but we still need to get off-oil for a lot of our current needs.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Don't forget that, myco- or not, diesel fuel still has problems (such as particulate pollution) that are specific to it. This development could cause a rise in diseases such as childhood asthma.

Other approaches to generating energy (such as electro-nuclear fusion (http://www.emc2fusion.org/)) may prove to be more fruitful without these messy consequences.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

childhood asthma

Of which we already have too much.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We need alternatives, IMO, rather than stop-gaps to perpetuate the system we now have.

[meret.livejournal.com]

Cool! I didn't realize it could be used just like gas. The most promising bio fuel fuel I'd seen before that is algae fuel, bit I think it does require a different kind of engine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That looks useful too, though.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite SF authors is Hal Clement, and Needle is one of his best. Long time ago.

The protagonist lived on an island whose economy derived from tending algae that produced oil.

I've been waiting decades to hear about a commercial set-up. ;-) But it doesn't look like they're there yet.

that would be Solazyme

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.solazyme.com/

Well, they aren't commercial, they're the "looking for partners" type of deal. And they're a bit close to the vest about how well their process works. But we don't have numbers about the fungus, either. What if it only converts a percent of its food into Good Stuff ? Sigh. Cross fingers.

Don

Re: that would be Solazyme

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

they're a bit close to the vest about how well their process works.

I suppose they don't want someone else to profit from it before they do? History is full of that sort of thing.

It looks promising, though. In the right sort of way.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wonder what will become of that. Or why it's low-profile.