Raging against the oil age

There's an interesting article making the rounds regarding the possibility of there being what is termed, an inexhaustable supply of energy via microbes and the hydrogen they produce as a matter of existence...

A couple of grains of salt could be all that's needed to help bacteria produce hydrogen from wastewater or organic byproducts.
...
In the past, microbial electrolysis cells have required some electrical input. Now, though, the Penn team's discovered that the extra energy can be delivered simply through the difference between river water and seawater.

Pure hydrogen gas is the result.

Source URL: www.tgdaily.com...

In this age of energy awareness, these kinds of articles are not at all out of the commonplace. As the price of fossil fuels has gone steadily up and the supply has come steadily down, we've grown to understand like never before, that we must evolve away, or out of the Vaseline jar.

For those who dare to think outside the officially prescibed box, we also often suspect that no matter how hard we try, we'll never be allowed that evolutionary growth because there is a very large industry that, like a cancer, has come to exist in nearly every segment of our society and control everything it comes into contact with.

More to the point, there is evidence of what we already suspect; that the oil industry will be allowed to control the evolution away from itself. In fact, for their good and their profit margins, we will likely pay and pay and pay... not just in money but also, in our growth as a civilization and species.

For your consideration, another article that reaches back into the foundations of our delimma and explains rather candidly the reasoning why we are still wallowing in the sludge.

The following is exceprted from an article at fuel-efficient-vehicles.org entitled:

The Chrysler Turbine car of 1963

All of us identify with a David who is up against a giant Goliath. It is easy to get some people to believe that the auto manufactures or oil companies are like giant Goliath who buy-up worthwhile inventions and "lock up" the design. This is done so more gas and oil can be sold- - or more car parts can be sold - - and the rich get richer. These stories are common.

Actually, from the published record there does seem to be a grain of truth to this kind of reasoning. At times there does seem to be a "collusion" between government agency officials, the automobile manufactures and the oil companies.
...
"Chrysler is careful about its claims for the future. It is uncomfortably aware of what a major shift to gas-turbine engines would do to the auto industry's vast investment in the piston engine and to the oil industry's stake in high-octane fuels..."

Source URL: fuel-efficient-vehicles.org...

Today's version of the old turbo car may well be models like the Chevy Volt and other electric or hybrid vehicles. To date, none of these has done extremely well and some are only just now making the showroom floors in such limited numbers that there's little danger of them having any real affect on the nation's addiction to oil.

One is left to question whether there is anything more than a facade of effort to free our culture from petroleum and that these offerings are just that; sacrifices to appease those who work for a day when we will be liberated.

The argument that rages regarding how much oil is actually available, or how it is even formed within the earth, is no more than sauce for the subjective goose. There is not an infinite supply and despite its origins or reserve, there will be a point when demand will exceed supply... if that point hasn't been reached already.

The problem we face is in detaching from a petroleum industry that does have us all right where they want us. Evidence suggests that they are not alone in their efforts to hold the human race hostage to their product and that any breaking away at all will be more than difficult. But the longer we remain mired in this oily swamp, the longer it will be before we can take the next step away from the dangers facing us today from expensive, polluting and limited energy resources... and of course, those OPEC nations that apply it all as a strangle hold on the rest of humanity.

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OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER: The author of this OP believes that this offering, as presented here, is not otherwise covered in any other thread. There is no intent to usurp any other thread or ATS member. Further, the author has made an effort to avoid the politics often associated with this subject so as to avoid the needless juvenile bickering and backbiting that accompanies any politically charged subject.

reply to post by redoubt


Great thread. Scientists from all around the world should join their forces, and make an absolute priority to develop new way of obtaining energy and propulsion.

That's the only thing, that can save us.

Oil is bringing us wars, poverty and total-control over world politics for it's handlers.
Even idea that oil belongs solely to whomever is able to suck it out from planet is foul and unfair.

We are very fast to turn on evil oil and gas companys and i think we can all agree that like other stages of evolution before, we will move onto new technologies.

Oil has fast tracked our evolution so incredably compared to other technological ages before, of course its going to be hard to leave for new resources. Huge amazing things have been created, devised and improved due to oil, but while theres so many potential techs out there on the horizon and coupled with our current state of dependence on oil it seems almost natural for companies to protect themselfs.

I bet every human in those busniesses knows it wont last forever, until theres a 100% clean safe obvious solution they will stick to their guns.

well OP you certainly pointed out some very thought provoking material. it does seem like a conflict of intrest for big oil

oh i like your disclaimer at the bottom

Originally posted by Biigs
We are very fast to turn on evil oil and gas companys and i think we can all agree that like other stages of evolution before, we will move onto new technologies.

Oil has fast tracked our evolution so incredably compared to other technological ages before, of course its going to be hard to leave for new resources. Huge amazing things have been created, devised and improved due to oil, but while theres so many potential techs out there on the horizon and coupled with our current state of dependence on oil it seems almost natural for companies to protect themselfs.

I bet every human in those busniesses knows it wont last forever, until theres a 100% clean safe obvious solution they will stick to their guns.

edit on 20-9-2011 by Biigs because: (no reason given)

The same thing could have been said about coal... and it certainly was. Also, a few pages from history will tell us about the reluctance to evolve away from the horse and buggy to the automobile. In fact, the horses ruled the roads for quite some time after Henry Ford began producing the Model T.

But now here we are, well into a century depending on oil and now also understanding that it's time is over. Long over, in fact. The problem is that oil basically owns the very institutions that would replace it. New energy technologies are regularly developed by the older ones but the cost of replacing the gas pump and the piston engine will never be taken easily.

So, what we have is the squeeze... getting every last penny out of every last drop.

There is a very worthy case against the oil industry... and regardless of the contemporary trendiness of such arguments, they are nonetheless relevant, imo.

Thanks for the reply

there is already a thread about this running...ever use search? www.abovetopsecret.com...

Originally posted by CaDreamer
there is already a thread about this running...ever use search? www.abovetopsecret.com...

Don't do the smartassery on my thread.

Yes, I search.

Mods, if I broke the rules, smack me down...

The main problem with using Hydrogen for energy isn't the creation of Hydrogen, it is in the storage of Hydrogen. The Hydrogen molocule is so small that it passes between the molocules of the storage vessel.

One other issue. If the world ever went to Hydrogen as a main power source, they would catch hell from the Global Warming idiots. Water vapor can be considered a greenhouse gas.

reply to post by redoubt



Oh i fully agree with you, short of running out of oil itself the companies will keep turning and protecting their empires.

and to the guy who said use search, did you even read the OP, specificly the bit at the bottom "OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER"?

good thread.

I really cant see why oil companies dont make themselfs look better and start spending some of that HUGE money and influence by setting up research centers of scientists (think university researchers only VERY well funded).

I do not care whos badge is on my electric superbike, honda, BP etc sort it out fellas, dip into that deep pocket and do somthing with it, you can still be super rich in a oil-free future!!!

Originally posted by JIMC5499
The main problem with using Hydrogen for energy isn't the creation of Hydrogen, it is in the storage of Hydrogen. The Hydrogen molocule is so small that it passes between the molocules of the storage vessel.

One other issue. If the world ever went to Hydrogen as a main power source, they would catch hell from the Global Warming idiots. Water vapor can be considered a greenhouse gas.

We'd prolly do better to begin on the larger scale... like electric generation and such, applying learned technologies from there to smaller applications like automobiles.

Just one point of view, of course.

Also, so as not to anger the thread police, there should be a note here that so much of this is going to be fought. The oilers aren't going to roll over and allow their paychecks to be taken by a new generation hydrogen energy industry...

Thanks

Originally posted by Biigs
reply to post by redoubt

 

and to the guy who said use search, did you even read the OP, specificly the bit at the bottom "OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER"?

LOL... no big thing. I just don't understand why we have so many Barney Fife's running around when we have some very good mods.

Thanks again