Plants as Fuel: Juan Enriquez
The unfolding oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has forced a reflection on the essence of corporate negligence and social responsibility, the economic underpinnings of the oil trade, and the environmental destruction that is taking place. It has also illustrated the seemingly contradictory nature of energy consumption and research into alternative energy sources.
What does this have to do with plants, you ask?
Well, there is this guy (Juan Enriquez) and he says he can grow fuel from plants (and other naturally occurring substances). Why does he think this? Technically because all of the fuel we consume now, whether it is oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons is essentially decayed plant matter.
The majority of what comprises petroleum is believed to be the transformed remains of the fossils of plants and marine organisms (and maybe even a dinosaur or other large animal or two). Given the right conditions of pressure, heat, and time, petroleum is produced (think like diamonds with carbon and pressure, but more liquidy- and no, liquidy is not a word). Enriquez believes this process can be stimulated and recreated, with an eye towards a much cleaner, sustainable fuel source.
His TED talk below is worth a look.
Lest you think he is a one trick pony (all plants, all the time, like myself), be sure to take a look at the some of the articles he has published now residing in JSTOR. Quite an eclectic character who likes to see intersections and patterns across disciplines.
Enriquez, J. (1998). Genomics and the World’s Economy. Science, 281 (5379): pp. 925-926. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2896103
