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U-Brew Plastic
Scientists have created a strain of bacteria which excretes an important ingredient in many plastics. While not quite to the point of pooping out a soda bottle, it definitely seems to represent yet another step away from oil reliance. A good thing!
Personally, I do truly like these ideas of using bacteria and other organisms to produce useful products. However, what I worry about is how we feed them. The hydrocarbon producing algae you linked to a month or two ago need sunlight and CO2. These little guys need sugar (waste product sugar for now). Getting those could become more difficult and costly when one attempts to scale up to mass production.
This doesn't mean don't pursue them, it simply means there are hurdles to overcome in basic logistics.
Posted by: ronaprhys on September 19, 2008 08:19 AMNo problem, we'll make some bacteria that produce sugar.
And consume only human souls to do it.
Posted by: Tatterdemalian on September 20, 2008 06:08 PM