Bug that excretes petrol?!

matt2000 · July 6th, 2008, 5:59 PM

Found this while poking around on the Zombie Squad forums. My God they have some weird thinkers there.

Quote:

“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”.
Mr Pal is a senior director of LS9, one of several companies in or near Silicon Valley that have spurned traditional high-tech activities such as software and networking and embarked instead on an extraordinary race to make $140-a-barrel oil (£70) from Saudi Arabia obsolete. “All of us here – everyone in this company and in this industry, are aware of the urgency,” Mr Pal says.

What is most remarkable about what they are doing is that instead of trying to reengineer the global economy – as is required, for example, for the use of hydrogen fuel – they are trying to make a product that is interchangeable with oil. The company claims that this “Oil 2.0” will not only be renewable but also carbon negative – meaning that the carbon it emits will be less than that sucked from the atmosphere by the raw materials from which it is made.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4133668.ece

BS? It's from the Times

If not, it could be the answer to our prayers.

Discuss.

Speedtouch · July 6th, 2008, 6:11 PM

Indeed if real, that would be awesome. A new kind of fuel tank would be cool, one that has a colony inside, and automatically refills. images/smilies/lol.gif

katwalk · July 6th, 2008, 6:14 PM

*fills bug with bugs*
images/smilies/lol.gif

bafranksbro · July 6th, 2008, 6:18 PM

Was I the only one that thought Beetle when I saw the thread title? images/smilies/blink.gif

Crazyjeeper · July 6th, 2008, 6:21 PM

The thread title made me think of an old VW with a leaky fuel tank images/smilies/lol.gif

bafranksbro · July 6th, 2008, 6:22 PM

^ Haha I wasn't. images/smilies/lol.gif

matt2000 · July 6th, 2008, 6:26 PM

Well when I searched for existing threads all I got was VW threads. images/smilies/lol.gif

the Interceptor · July 6th, 2008, 6:26 PM

I'd buy that shit! images/smilies/lol.gif

Wizegui · July 6th, 2008, 6:32 PM

I'd just buy several colonies of these bugs and leave it in my cas tank. Then I'll seal off the fuel filler cap so that none of them car escape.

Solberg · July 6th, 2008, 6:37 PM

You need hundreds of millions of them to supply a decent supply of fuel. Imagine if they all broke free. That would be a huge problem.

the Interceptor · July 6th, 2008, 6:38 PM

With this upcoming "bacteria and bugs eat biowaste and produce fuel" reports, does anyone else feel reminded of the beginning of Back to the Future 2, where Doc Brown puts a Banana and some Beer into the Delorean? images/smilies/lol.gif

emil_t · July 6th, 2008, 7:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt2000

BS? It's from the Times

If not, it could be the answer to our prayers.

yes, bug shit images/smilies/lol.gif

though it comes to mind, what will happen if the bacteria will somehow exit the lab ? will it survive in water, thus contaminating it ?

smib · July 6th, 2008, 7:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

You need hundreds of millions of them to supply a decent supply of fuel. Imagine if they all broke free. That would be a huge problem.

I saw an article on this a while ago and the interviewer asked about that. The scientist said that they would also be genetically engineered to die of removed from thier environment.

argatoga · July 6th, 2008, 7:37 PM

Sounds nice, but how efficient is it compared to sticking a tube in the ground and having oil spurt out?

matt2000 · July 6th, 2008, 8:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

Sounds nice, but how efficient is it compared to sticking a tube in the ground and having oil spurt out?

Probably very when you get to the point that nothing comes out of the tube. And they say it reduces CO2 levels too.

All sounds a bit sci-fi though, and I don't really like the idea of genetic engineering anyway. I've played Bioshock.

Would be a great way to get rid of politicians though, just chuck them into a tank of these, instead of sharks or piranhas. very James Bond!

Crazyjeeper · July 6th, 2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt2000

All sounds a bit sci-fi though, and I don't really like the idea of genetic engineering anyway. I've played Bioshock.

Dude, plasmids would kick ass images/smilies/tongue.gif

Ottobon · July 7th, 2008, 12:31 AM

I really wish this works out, but i have a feeling all the GE ("Frankenfood") idiot protesters will make it hard as hell. Probably be like Nuclear Power where even if it would dramatically help the environment, improve the quality of life for millions, and create new jobs, the enviros will still be against it.

Gatecrasher · July 7th, 2008, 6:59 AM

*waits for bug activists to complain that the insects are not being treated humanely*

Crazyjeeper · July 7th, 2008, 7:18 AM

*waits on roof with rifle for said activists to show up* images/smilies/twisted.gif

jensked · July 7th, 2008, 8:19 AM

There is already such a creature:

July 6th, 2008, 6:11 PM	#2
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: 12:37 AM Location: Kent, England Age: 17 Posts: 4,440 Car: '99 Kangoo 1.4 (Parents) Rep Power: 123	Indeed if real, that would be awesome. A new kind of fuel tank would be cool, one that has a colony inside, and automatically refills. __________________ ^My Flickr^

July 6th, 2008, 6:18 PM	#4
bafranksbro Joined: Dec 1st, 2007 Last Online: July 18th, 2008 Location: New Hampshire Age: 25 Posts: 598 Car: 98 VW Jetta Rep Power: 17	Was I the only one that thought Beetle when I saw the thread title? __________________ "He can spot your beaver from about a mile away..." -Clarkson

July 6th, 2008, 6:21 PM	#5
Crazyjeeper Joined: Nov 29th, 2006 Last Online: 5:08 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 5,626 Car: '85 CJ7, '97 F150, '84 VF500F Interceptor Rep Power: 213	The thread title made me think of an old VW with a leaky fuel tank __________________

July 6th, 2008, 6:22 PM	#6
bafranksbro Joined: Dec 1st, 2007 Last Online: July 18th, 2008 Location: New Hampshire Age: 25 Posts: 598 Car: 98 VW Jetta Rep Power: 17	^ Haha I wasn't. __________________ "He can spot your beaver from about a mile away..." -Clarkson

July 6th, 2008, 6:26 PM	#7
matt2000 Hedgehog Sandwich Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 12:30 AM Location: Meerkat Harborough, UK Age: 20 Posts: 6,144 Car: 1977 lol sprung Land Rover LFS Status: Rep Power: 138	Well when I searched for existing threads all I got was VW threads. __________________ "Just driving my new Toyota Prius. Can't stop. Chat later"

July 6th, 2008, 6:14 PM	#3
katwalk Not A Dude Joined: Apr 1st, 2008 Last Online: January 12th, 2010 Posts: 4,575 Car: 2003 volkswagen beetle Cabriolet Rep Power: 238	fills bug with bugs

July 6th, 2008, 6:26 PM	#8
the Interceptor I LUV MY PRIUS!!! Joined: Feb 22nd, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Germany Age: 32 Posts: 4,057 Car: BMW E36 323i ultraleggera (-143 kg) Rep Power: 208	I'd buy that shit! __________________ "My next attempt to make [the Nikon 14-24mm] look bad saw me shooting at ISO400 with the Canon 5D wide open at a distance of less than three feet. I know it's wrong, but this lens just brings out my inner Ken Rockwell." - 16-9.net Got a question regarding Hi-Fi of any kind? Then check my general audio thread.

July 6th, 2008, 6:32 PM	#9
Wizegui Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: March 15th, 2010 Location: Richmond, BC Age: 18 Posts: 2,146 Car: 93 Toyota Tercel LFS Status: Rep Power: 34	I'd just buy several colonies of these bugs and leave it in my cas tank. Then I'll seal off the fuel filler cap so that none of them car escape. __________________ My 1993 Lexus IS 150... If you actually googled this up, then I've got some bad news for you...

July 6th, 2008, 6:37 PM	#10
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 1,405 Car: BMW E92 335i M Sport (Manual) Rep Power: 0	You need hundreds of millions of them to supply a decent supply of fuel. Imagine if they all broke free. That would be a huge problem. __________________

July 6th, 2008, 6:38 PM	#11
the Interceptor I LUV MY PRIUS!!! Joined: Feb 22nd, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Germany Age: 32 Posts: 4,057 Car: BMW E36 323i ultraleggera (-143 kg) Rep Power: 208	With this upcoming "bacteria and bugs eat biowaste and produce fuel" reports, does anyone else feel reminded of the beginning of Back to the Future 2, where Doc Brown puts a Banana and some Beer into the Delorean? __________________ "My next attempt to make [the Nikon 14-24mm] look bad saw me shooting at ISO400 with the Canon 5D wide open at a distance of less than three feet. I know it's wrong, but this lens just brings out my inner Ken Rockwell." - 16-9.net Got a question regarding Hi-Fi of any kind? Then check my general audio thread.

July 6th, 2008, 7:37 PM	#14
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 4:58 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 6,781 Car: '95 Jaguar XJ6, '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 370	Sounds nice, but how efficient is it compared to sticking a tube in the ground and having oil spurt out? __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

July 7th, 2008, 12:31 AM	#17
Ottobon Banned Joined: Nov 27th, 2005 Last Online: May 27th, 2009 Location: Detriot Metro Area Posts: 3,311 Car: 2 Rust buckets and a confused 1999 American. Rep Power: 0	I really wish this works out, but i have a feeling all the GE ("Frankenfood") idiot protesters will make it hard as hell. Probably be like Nuclear Power where even if it would dramatically help the environment, improve the quality of life for millions, and create new jobs, the enviros will still be against it.

July 7th, 2008, 6:59 AM	#18
Gatecrasher Joined: Mar 21st, 2007 Last Online: August 18th, 2008 Location: USA Age: 23 Posts: 158 Car: Vovlo 940 Rep Power: 15	waits for bug activists to complain that the insects are not being treated humanely __________________

July 7th, 2008, 7:18 AM	#19
Crazyjeeper Joined: Nov 29th, 2006 Last Online: 5:08 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 5,626 Car: '85 CJ7, '97 F150, '84 VF500F Interceptor Rep Power: 213	waits on roof with rifle for said activists to show up __________________

July 7th, 2008, 8:19 AM	#20
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: March 6th, 2010 Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 26 Posts: 4,057 Car: 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 51	There is already such a creature: __________________

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