Just saw this on the BBC…….amazing!

The ‘biofuel cells’ work by borrowing technology from living cells
Battery-like “biofuel cells” could in the future run on an energy drink or even vegetable oil, says a researcher.

A prototype cell has been described at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in the US.

The idea makes use of mitochondria, the power stations that in most living cells turn food into energy.

While applications may be far in the future, the work is a milestone in the integration of parts of a living cell into an electronic device.

Shelley Minteer of St Louis University in Missouri, US, said the devices could in the future replace disposable batteries in some applications.

Dr Minteer has been part of a wider research effort that is borrowing some of nature’s tricks for energy production.

Typically this involves the breaking down and rebuilding of molecules in a form that can be used by cells. That process unleashes electrons along the way - electrons that can be corralled and become electricity.

Until now, the efforts of Dr Minteer and her collaborators have focused on the use of enzymes, molecules that are expert at breaking down particular “fuel” molecules such as methanol or glucose.

But the new effort makes use of one of the living cell’s tiny constituent parts known as mitochondria.

These are a whole ensemble of enzymes working together to convert a range of “fuel” molecules into a form that cells can directly use.

“In order to be able to completely consume a fuel… you need a whole series of enzymes, anywhere from three, for something simple, to 22 for something like glucose, and you need to get these enzymes to work together,” Dr Minteer told BBC News. “The mitochondria channel the fuel from enzyme one directly to enzyme two and so on; they do this metabolism far more efficiently than we do by putting a soup of enzymes down on the electrode.”

The demonstration device has only been used with simple fuels made of a single type of molecule, as the enzyme approaches have required until now. But future efforts will aim to make the cells work with more familiar sources of energy.

“Mitochondria can break down a wide variety of fuels,” Dr Minteer explained.

“That means it can handle fuel mixtures that you might see in, say, an energy drink or a protein shake.”

‘New domain’

The work remains firmly at the experimental stage, and the researchers are working to change the materials used in the biofuel cells to make them produce more power.

However, the biofuel cell application may not be the most relevant focus, said Plamen Atanassov, director of the Center for Emerging Energy Technologies at the University of New Mexico.

Professor Atanassov told BBC News that the work was a “seminal achievement for biotechnology to be able to introduce [cell parts] into technical devices, especially in the context of energy harvesting,” but conceded that “whether it will have an immediate practical application remains to be seen”.

He said that “with all the acceleration that technology advances give us, things don’t happen overnight”, observing that it was a full 50 years between the first demonstration of a standard fuel cell and the Gemini space missions that first used them.

“The main contribution for this work is in the fundamental bridging of biotechnology and nanotechnology,” he explained.

“It ultimately may lead to the introduction of a whole new domain of fuels that we would never otherwise be able to tap.”

Well what a result. Three days after national elections and we still have no clear indication as to who may form a government!

I may or may not make comment later on the election in general but feel one obsevation is worth mentioning now. As someone who likes the outdoors and sport I think an understated and normally not considered policy by the Greens and supported by the Labour Party has had a huge effect on the results.

The Greens want to increase to 50% of the Australian coastline a series of Marine Parks that will exclude all fishing, even for recreational purposes. I am not going to expound the virtues of either side of the fishing arguement here, but I know that as the largest sport in Australia and with more and more of the easily accessible coastline now off limits to the average jo who wants to throw a line in with the kids……many people are not happy. Like the old ad campaign said …Not Happy Jan.

This normally would not have an effect, but given that both major political parties in this country haven’t got many policies that distinguish themselves apart from the other, is it any wonder that the Greeens are more popular than ever. And now 3-4 independents are also over the line, themselves disenfranchised former conservative party members!

So my thought is with such complacency throughout the country, why not just vote against a single policy that screws around with your favorite hobby. In his case that meant a vote for the Liberal Party. Maybe it’s not a swing against the Labour Party at all. Just an attempt to save our fishing rights!

I have been out of action for a while with injuries but feel nostalgic about kayaking and throwing a line out so thought it time for anothe plug for kayak fishing.

For all you guys out there it a great way to get away with the boys and have a few quality hours by yourself. Hey - the better half manages to slip away, right! So if you don’t have a shed - get one and rig up your dream machine. Its catch and release most of the time anyway!

Here are a couple more videos to keep you interested!!

Well maybe this is best avoided!

I have been to Kruger National Park and saw some amazing sites. A Hyena at 3 meters with nothing between it and me was something I will never forget!

This however is one of the most amazing pieces of footage ever ….

Its about time something like this came along. A new shipping concept to help reduce trucks on our highways by taking a ‘greener’ environmental approach. To quote the ship builders STX Canada;

‘The latest technologies will be applied in the design and equipment selection to ensure the ship achieves the least impact on the environment and will put the vessel at the forefront of a new generation of coastal marine transportation’.

When you consider the number of trucks running up and down the US Eastern seaboard this will help reduce congestion on the roads. Instead of trucks having to transport containers thousands of miles North-South rigs can be more fully employed servicing smaller regional areas.

Another huge plus…..a revolution in trucking really is the ability for one rig to now return/ re-locate up to 3 containers. This means the other 2 rigs that would have had to be used to re-locate an empty container can now be better utilized carrying a full load. Again a greener eco-friendly solution.

To quote from the Roadships site re its containers/trailers …. ‘Colapsable Trailer. Under Patent 783478 Roadships is developing the nestable trailer program which allows for 3 road transport trailers or containers to be compressed and travel as one unit’.

Here is the full press release;

June 26, 2009

Roadships Holdings Inc. Announces the Engagement of STX Marine

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Roadships Holdings Inc., a USA company listed on Nasdaq (OTC Bulletin Board: RDSH), is today announcing the decision of its Board of Directors to engage STX Marine to update the design of its Roadships High Speed Monohull to be fuelled by Liquid Natural Gas.

An amendment to the Commercialisation Agreement contract between Roadships and STX was signed today giving effect to the change.

The announcement follows confirmation of STX Canada Marines parent company STX Europe earlier this month of its strong commitment to reduce the environmental impact of the marine ship industry.

STX Europe is an international shipbuilding group which has state-of-the-art concepts, technology, processes and products for customers around the world and comprises 15 shipyards in Finland, France, Norway, Romania, Brazil and Vietnam.

According to RDSH Chairman and CEO Michael Nugent ‘the partnership between Roadships and STX Canada Marine will provide collaborative benefits for both corporations. STX offers ‘Ecorizon’ the strategic environmental plan, based on STX Europe’s latest innovations and continuous R&D. The five point plan focuses on water, waste, energy, emissions and sustainability. Roadships brings to the table its business model to move road transport trailers via blue water highways reducing road congestion, diesel fuel emissions and increasing productivity efficiencies in intermodal door to door transport corridors.’

According to STX Canada Marine President David McMillan ‘STX Canada Marine is pleased to be involved in the design development and implementation of the new High Speed Monohull Ro-Ro vessel to Roadships America. The decision to move towards a clean design aligns with the Ecorizon(R) Green Lifecycle Focus approach of our parent company STX Europe. The latest technologies will be applied in the design and equipment selection to ensure the ship achieves the least impact on the environment and will put the vessel at the forefront of a new generation of coastal marine transportation.’

‘The latest partnership responds to developments where most countries are now devoting resources to reduce road congestion and increase road transport efficiencies,’ said Mr. Nugent. He pointed to the US bill which has been recently introduced to reduce congestion on America’s roads by encouraging more freight to be carried by barges and ships.

For media enquiries or images please contact:

Bay Street Mediaworks
439 Kent Street
Sydney NSW Australia 2000
Phone: +61-2-9212-4335
Email: sally@baystreetmediaworks.com.au

SOURCE Roadships Holdings Inc.; Roadships Acquisitions Australia Ltd.