Microbe-powered 'fart' machine stores energy

[BigBearJohn]

Microbe-powered 'fart' machine stores energy
Could improve fuel cell technology by turning CO2 into methane

It sounds like a gag gift instead of serious science, but a new electrical farting machine could improve fuel cell technology by turning C02 in the atmosphere into methane.

The technique won't combat global warming directly, since both CO2 and methane are potent greenhouse gases, but it could help store alternative energies such as wind and solar more efficiently.

It works like this: giving small jolts of electricity to single-celled microorganisms known as archea prompts them to remove C02 from the air and turn it into methane, released as tiny "farts." The methane, in turn, can be used to power fuel cells or to store the electrical energy chemically until its needed.

"We found that we can directly convert electrical current into methane using a very specific microorganism," said Bruce Logan, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, who details his discovery in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

We envision this as a way to store electrical energy, to convert electricity into a biofuel," he said.

SOURCE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30372491

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. There are a lot of cattle and dairy cows where I live in Central CA

and the methane content of the air is quite high.

Would be great if methane could be converted, and especially good if doing that cleaned up the air.
So many times the air here stinks like you're right on top of the manure pile x(

[TankLV]

2. Saw the headline: Is cheney speaking again?

- or is it some other repuke?!!!

[MADem]

3. Inventor Eddie Murphy was thrilled with his new device....

:rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSZJJc3T1RQ

[cliffordu]

4. Well, that means my wife is going to make us rich.....