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A New Way To Produce Hydrogen
Iddo Genuth writes "Scientists at Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Commonwealth University are producing hydrogen by exposing clusters of aluminum atoms to water. Rather than relying on the electronic properties of the aluminum, this new process depends on the geometric distribution of atoms within the clusters. It requires the presence of 'Lewis acids' and 'Lewis bases' in those atoms (water can act as either). Unlike most hydrogen production processes, this method can be used at room temperature and doesn't require the application of heat or electricity to work. The researchers experimented with a variety of different aluminum cluster patterns, discovering three that result in hydrogen production."
The problem is the aluminum can't be used over and over again, a problem which the scientists are working to solve.
"In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!"
[I read the article, I know it says the same thing -- I'm criticizing it too.]
Not so. We'll just ship it to China, and they'll do it for a quarter of the energy that an American worker would charge.
[Suggested moderation: It's Funny Because Someone Will IPO a Company Based on This Premise and kdawson Will Run The Story For Them]
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
.. pull my finger.
Yeah, well, laws were meant to be broken.
The huge amounts of energy shouldnt be a problem, we could use hydrogen - its nice and clean.
Theyve just found a new way to make it. Using aluminum
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beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
I think what you meant to say was "Lisa, in this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!"
I hate printers.
This has the potential to be big but of course the valid questions are not mentioned, such as what are the inputs to get this hydrogen and does it scale. Still sounds rather Cold Fusiony...
Hemp advocates like to point out that the plant used for industrial hemp is an entirely different one from Marijuana. Strangely, though, every hemp advocate I've ever met was a marijuana smoker.
No, I'm pretty sure that would spoil the joke.
And I'm pretty sure that I covered that in the [bracketed section]. But thanks for beating the point to death with your remorseless logic. How's the weather on Vulcan this time of year?
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.