Scientists Create New Gasoline Substitute Out of Plants

destinyland writes "California scientists have just created a new biofuel using plants that burns just as well as a petroleum-based fuel. 'The discovery, published in the journal Nature, means corn, sugar cane, grasses and other fast-growing plants or trees, like eucalyptus, could be used to make the propellant, replacing oil,' writes the San Francisco Chronicle, and the researchers predict mass marketing of their product within 5 to 10 years. They created their fuel using a fermentation process that was first discovered in 1914, but which was then discontinued in 1965 when petroleum became the dominant source of fuel. The new fuel actually contains more energy per gallon than is currently contained in ethanol, and its potency can even be adjusted for summer or winter driving."

potential for warmongering?

[Anonymous Coward]

but can you use it as an excuse to invade?

Re:potential for warmongering?

[Cryacin]

First you get the sugar, then you get the women.

Re:How is this different from bio-diesel?

[Anonymous Coward]

Dave's not here, man.

5 to 10 Years Out

[cosm]

Gasoline substitute....5 to 10 years out.....***puts on shades***...sounds like vaporware.

5 years

[phantomfive]

According to the article, it will be ready for the market in five to ten years [xkcd.com].

Re:Anyone hungry?

[Farmer Tim]

Call it Soylent premium.

Re:hmm

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean like electrolytes?

Re:hmm

[taucross]

If grasses can be used then the OP's idea isn't so far fetched. Could you imagine racks of dirt and grass 1km high? Creating giant tower racks of biomass to support the creation of fuel could be done to create sufficient energy density. I guess we could call it a "Rack-mount Blade server". Boom boom

Re:hmm

[semi-extrinsic]

What you're really saying is that a greenhouse is a Beowulf cluster of plants?

What?

[ledow]

Oh come on, Slashdot.

150 comments and not a mention of Triffid oil?

I'm disappointed. What has this site come to?