2008 Woodie Awards
Alternative fuels may fight global warming
Andrew Cross
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: News
Global warming has recently become an increasing concern for citizens of the United States and the entire world.
Environmental experts believe that by the year 2050, the average temperature in North America could be several degrees higher than it was in 1900.
Internet giant Google plans to do its part in the fight against global warming.
Google.org, the philanthropic division of Google.com, recently announced a prize of 10 million dollars to the entrepreneur, small company or major car manufacturer to come up with the next great idea for plug-in cars.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are charged with a 120 volt outlet. Google estimates that the use of such vehicles could reduce gasoline consumption by 85 billion gallons per year.
Taking into account gasoline prices, as well as the price of importing oil from foreign nations, the resulting savings by the United States could reach a staggering $270 billion a year.
"I probably would not buy a plug-in vehicle until they have been tested further," Dave Nelson, a freshman accounting major, said. "However, I do think it is important that we eventually switch to alternative fuel cars," Nelson continued.
Plug-in cars are not commercially available but Toyota and Chevrolet are both working to develop them.
Dr. Daniel Goebel, associate professor of marketing, does not think alternative fuel sources will become a practicality in the next decade.
"The entire infrastructure for vehicle use and refueling in this and all other countries is designed around the internal combustion engine," Goebel said.
Goebel went on to explain that if vehicles in the United States were to be dependent upon electricity for power, we would need to produce more electricity to keep them running.
"The electrical grid in this country already is operating at a high rate of capacity," Goebel said.
If more power plants are needed to create electricity, those plants are likely to be powered by coal or natural gas, turning the energy dilemma in a loop.
Google is also looking past the major car companies at entrepreneurs and for-profit companies.
John Kanzius, retired educator and cancer researcher from Pennsylvania, claims to have inadvertently discovered a way to burn salt water, the most abundant resource on the planet.
While working on a radio-frequency generator to treat cancer, Kanzius found that certain frequencies of radio waves burned the salt water.
Radio frequencies weaken the bonds between the elements in the salt water. The hydrogen is released and burns at temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The hydrogen molecules will continue to burn as long as they are exposed to the radio frequencies.
Experts believe his discovery could be pivotal in the ongoing research for alternative fuels.
Environmental experts believe that by the year 2050, the average temperature in North America could be several degrees higher than it was in 1900.
Internet giant Google plans to do its part in the fight against global warming.
Google.org, the philanthropic division of Google.com, recently announced a prize of 10 million dollars to the entrepreneur, small company or major car manufacturer to come up with the next great idea for plug-in cars.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are charged with a 120 volt outlet. Google estimates that the use of such vehicles could reduce gasoline consumption by 85 billion gallons per year.
Taking into account gasoline prices, as well as the price of importing oil from foreign nations, the resulting savings by the United States could reach a staggering $270 billion a year.
"I probably would not buy a plug-in vehicle until they have been tested further," Dave Nelson, a freshman accounting major, said. "However, I do think it is important that we eventually switch to alternative fuel cars," Nelson continued.
Plug-in cars are not commercially available but Toyota and Chevrolet are both working to develop them.
Dr. Daniel Goebel, associate professor of marketing, does not think alternative fuel sources will become a practicality in the next decade.
"The entire infrastructure for vehicle use and refueling in this and all other countries is designed around the internal combustion engine," Goebel said.
Goebel went on to explain that if vehicles in the United States were to be dependent upon electricity for power, we would need to produce more electricity to keep them running.
"The electrical grid in this country already is operating at a high rate of capacity," Goebel said.
If more power plants are needed to create electricity, those plants are likely to be powered by coal or natural gas, turning the energy dilemma in a loop.
Google is also looking past the major car companies at entrepreneurs and for-profit companies.
John Kanzius, retired educator and cancer researcher from Pennsylvania, claims to have inadvertently discovered a way to burn salt water, the most abundant resource on the planet.
While working on a radio-frequency generator to treat cancer, Kanzius found that certain frequencies of radio waves burned the salt water.
Radio frequencies weaken the bonds between the elements in the salt water. The hydrogen is released and burns at temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The hydrogen molecules will continue to burn as long as they are exposed to the radio frequencies.
Experts believe his discovery could be pivotal in the ongoing research for alternative fuels.
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