Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

The (London) Times reports Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol.

"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’."

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