Google has been investing in alternative energy, including our recent report that they are now the largest supporter for geothermal research in the United States. And now, Bill Gates is getting into algae biofuels with an investment into one of the many companies that is working on methods for getting microorganisms to produce fuel.
From our sister sites, Envirovore looks at the FDA's proposed guidelines for transgenic food animals; and EnviroWonk reports on the Arctic Summer of 2008.
And Now...On to that and the rest of the News!
Japan Getting a New Fastest Train
Japan has pretty much been at the forefront of highspeed train technology since highspeed train technology began existing. And thought it's a bit of a surprise that they don't hold the current train speed record, I never doubt that they've got new train technology around the corner.
Bill Gates Invests in Algae Fuel
Arguably the world's most famous billionaire dork, Bill Gates, has just plopped some cash down on one of EcoGeek's favorite technologies...algae fuel. Sapphire Energy, which hopes to create fuel for cars from algae, is undergoing series B financing, and Gates and several other large investment companies brought up Sapphire's total invested capital to $100 M. That's a pretty good hunk of change, but when you're trying to replace a trillion dollar industry, it's not so impressive.
Army Sponsoring Bat-Like, 6-inch, Solar Spy Plane
Imagine a six-inch spy plane that sends back visual and chemical data in real time, runs on vibrations as well as sun and wind power - and looks like a bat! Thanks to a five-year $10-million grant from the Army the University of Michigan College of Engineering will be making this Batman wet dream a reality. The renewable robot will be developed at U-M’s newly created Center for Objective Microelectronics and Biomimetic Advanced Technology a mouthful also appropriately known as COM-BAT. The University of Michigan will work with the University of California at Berkley as well as the University of New Mexico to create different aspects of the technology.
Mascoma's Cheap Ethanol Bacteria is Ready
Researchers at Dartmouth have genetically engineered a bacterium that makes ethanol as the only product of its fermentation from breaking down products like wood and grass. Researchers in the school's engineering department working with Mascoma Corporation have come up with the first step, a proof of concept, of ethanol-producing microbes that can make ethanol from cellulosic biomass without adding enzymes. The next step is developing the bacterium for commercial production of cellulosic ethanol.
FreePlay Foundation Begins Bringing CleanTech to All
As we Ecogeeks ogle our ever-expanding supply of fancy gadgets and even fancier chargers it’s hard to imagine a life without these lux comforts. How could I run 3 miles without my Ipod to distract me? Do you really expect me to write a blog post with a pencil? We get so wrapped up in our technology that we overlook the technological needs of the rest of the world. Isn’t it fortunate then that Freeplay Energy’s charitable wing the Freeplay Foundation attempts to bring communication and light to the 1.6 billion people in the world today without electricity? The Freeplay Foundation’s mission is to help vulnerable people transform their lives with “sustainable, self-sufficient and environmentally friendly technologies.”
And, of course, don't forget to check out the news on the other EcoGeek Network blogs, too:
Carectomy - http://www.carectomy.com/
EnviroWonk - http://www.envirowonk.com/
Envirovore - http://www.envirovore.com/
And be sure to check in for more information about all the latest green technologies at EcoGeek.org
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