Sometimes science is entertaining enough to make one stop and ponder the endless possibilities of being truly resourceful.  A group of researchers at University of Birmingham, UK, have discovered a way to create power by using the waste generated by a chocolate factory. Microbiologist Lynne Mackaskie and her colleagues at the university fed Escherichia coli bacteria a diluted chocolate waste. Upon consuming the sugary mixture, the bacteria produced hydrogen, which is produced with the enzyme hydrogenase, and organic acids. The hydrogen was then used to power a fuel cell, which generated enough electricity to drive a small fan.

If not used, the candy waste ends up in a land fill after the production line. The idea of recycling in such a manner is akin to the idea behind bio-diesel fuel. This could be an exciting alternative energy source to consider as we face the facts of our quickly disappearing fossil fuels.

People are always looking for ways to slow down or reverse the aging process in themselves, but often are looking for ways to speed it up in other area of life. From cheese to fruitcake and, perhaps most importantly, wine, flavors are enhanced and mellowed as some foods age. Hiroshi Tanaka, a Japanese man, claims to have perfected a machine that can turn a new, young wine into a smooth, aged one in just a few moments, all with a simple jolt of electricity. His electrolyzing process, reports CNN, would save an enormous amount of money by reducing overall production time and eliminating the need for storage areas and aging barrels.  

 During the natural maturation process, alcohol mixes with clusters of water molecules, causing the wine to mellow. Though the exact process seems to be a matter of scientific debate, Tanaka says that his process instantly breaks up the water clusters, reducing a long, slow process to a few seconds.

Tanaka says that he has already met resistance from many wine makers, particularly those in France, though wine producers in California and Washington State have expressed an interest in the stereo-sized device. The United States is already one of the leading consumers of wine in the world and could be the largest by as early as 2008, so if Tanaka's method gains acceptance here, it would be a huge success for him. He currently has plans for his US affiliate to start offering the treated wine via the internet later this year.

 

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District is researching how leftover foods can be turned into electricity, transforming the scraps left from restaurants and other institutions into renewable energy. Basically, certain types of bacteria are used to convert the food to gases that can be used to produce electricity. Not only would the energy source be endlessly renewable, but, the conversion would also decrease the use of landfills.

But I have to wonder--wouldn't it be more valuable to collect large quantities of leftover foods and donate them to the needy? Or perhaps open a charity kitchen that collects unused foods from restaurants? I think that would probably be a better use than to produce a little more electricity.