Artificial Photosynthesis is the ultimate renewable fuel ...

[MindMover]

http://solarfuelshub.org/

[truedelphi]

1. I am really leery of all this. Over in the UK, they were suggesting that

messy, leaf shedding and water dependent trees be cut down and replaced by this "new technology."

Our profit driven system wants to destroy everything from nature, in order to save us from nature. Very much like the old Vietnam war canard: Destroying the village in order to save it."

As long as it profits them, I guess.

[MindMover]

2. I have no idea what you are smoking but I want to know what it is ....

"JCAP aims to find a cost-effective method to produce fuels using only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide as inputs."

[NYC_SKP]

3. That's not very nice. I wish you would remove the insult. nt

[MindMover]

4. And I wish I was nice ...

What insult ... ?

The poster clearly did not read the post nor care too before referencing some bullshit canard about long ago Vietnam ... nothing even remotely addressing the original post ...

and if that is the way you skip it out in NYC, then I definitely will avoid the east coast for a while .....

[NYC_SKP]

6. the "don't know what you're smoking" part, but it's not a really nasty insult, just kind of snarky.

And I have to agree that the reply was a bit tangential!

[truedelphi]

8. I am appreciative of seeing someone here

Taking the time to remind others to utilize good manners.

It made my morning to open up these comments and see your reply to rudeness.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Thank you.

Thank you for the kind words.

[NYC_SKP]

5. I like the direction but don't accept the premise. "Fuels" are evil.

Fuels allow for manipulation.

Liquid fuels are designed for combustion engines, mostly, and these are not very efficient or green, even when running on "renewable" sources.

I know we're used to liquid fuels and ICUs, and we have the infrastructure (a corporate infrastructure). In fact, electricity is better.

Still looking for ways to emulate photosynthesis is a worthwhile quest.

[gtar100]

7. Cool. I've always wondered if we could find a method to emulate photosynthesis.

It makes sense that the breakthroughs in nanotechnology would be a catalyst in this research. I'm in no place to judge how plausible or effective this might be but I do hope for the best. My worry is that the DOE will fund all the hard work and some energy company will snatch it up and figure out how to sell it to us at the same profit margins they've come to expect from oil and gas. Or they buy it for the purpose of suppressing it.

[hunter]

10. I have a vegetarian meal, I put on my walking shoes or I get on my bike...

... that's transportation fueled by photosynthesis.

Or maybe I travel on an electric bus, streetcar, or train powered by wind or sunlight.

Who needs fuel? Why keep current models of transportation?

Maybe we can create an economy where very few people need or desire automobiles and most long distance transportation is accomplished using electricity.

Most higher density suburbs and urban areas could be transformed into walkable communities with excellent public transportation. Nobody in these communities would "need" automobiles, and few people would want them. Who needs the hassle of automobile ownership?

Sure, some urban and suburban people would maintain them, just as people enjoy horses today, but the vast majority of people wouldn't need to own their own automobile.

How many people "need" to own horses today? Just a few ranchers, rangers, etc..

Who might "need" to own personal automobiles tomorrow? Maybe a similarly small number of people.