I just saw this posted on slashdot.org (a mostly techie website) in a discussion about global warming. The availibility of oil was called into question and the following was posted: "They use a sugar based alcohol in Brazil. It tended to be about 1/4th the cost of regular gasoline, and it had no oil. Also, the amount of oil may not be as finite as we thought. The idea that oil is decayed plant life is under serious question and there is evidence that the earth produces oil in the core and this oil works it's way upwards as little beads that pool together. There have been multiple cases of dry oil wells spontaneously filling up, suggesting there is more oil than we know of. Of course, you are right, it's still finite, as the mass of the Earth is finite, but there may be a cycle as there is with plants." There were no replies to this post. I just thought that was really interesting and I had never heard anything like this. Has anyone hear ever read or heard anything about this idea? Anyone have any info to back this up or debunk it? dylan ------------------
Cool, a fellow /. reader I've actually heard the same thing about oil not being as finite as previously thought. The idea is that it is not the product of former plant/animal life is pretty interesting actually -- changes the nature of things a lot. ------------------ consultant, n.: Someone who knowns 101 ways to make love, but can't get a date.
I think sugar based gasoline is a much better solution to simply using oil. Whether or not the supply is limited really isn't the point. The drilling and refining process is not only a huge source of pollution and damage to preserved land like Alaska, but the emissions from combustion engines create serious pollution as well. Even if you don't consider global warming an issue, my wife has asthma and she can barely function on days when the ozone level is high in Houston. That is caused by oil refineries and combustion engines. Anything we can do to cut emissions is a great idea. I hope oil supplies are unlimited but that isn't an excuse to not deal with the problems burning it creates. ------------------ Me fail English? That's unpossible.
I know I'll be labeled a wacko for bringing it up, but it's funny that this theory hasn't received more media attention. Particularly since it seems to be gaining ground among accredited science journals. If true, this completely revolutionizes the argument. A friend of mine who is a geologist told me about this about a year or so ago, but the theory has been around long enough to gain a lot of attention among people in that field. ------------------
Max: I don't think you're a wacko for saying it. I think you're a wacko for completely different reasons. j/k Actually, you are correct. They should be talking about this. The only danger is that it will cause people to stop looking for answers to combustion which is inefficient and a really serious source of pollution. Even from a consumer standpoint, it would be much cheaper to have cars running on electricity, solar power or eythanol than on gasoline. I would most definitely prefer it with all the driving I do! ------------------ Me fail English? That's unpossible.
I'm buying stock in Domino sugar now ------------------ Hanta-Force Paintball http://www.hanta-force.com
