Politicians that may actually GET IT on Energy

[Speed55]

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

This should provide enough topics to the end of time.

[Sabre]

Speaking of energy, this is a new simple and practical technique developed by MIT to store solar-generated energy.

Bit confused by this purported "new development".  Generating H and O from water by running a current through the water between two electrodes has been around forever.  I remember my high school science teacher doing so in class back in 1977 (dating myself, I know).  It has been proposed before to store wind and solar power as hydrogen.  I'm not sure exactly why this is considered such a breakthrough.  The article is unclear regarding this.  I'm also not sure what photosynthesis has to do with this.

[Bones]

Wow. That is amazing. That's really the MIT site, not some spoof? That is truly a gamechanger if it works.

I can pretty much assure you that it is not a spoof.  They are halfway there.

[crockett]

I'd run this one through Snopes....

lol yes there is a sneaky smell of a hoax here.. 

[crockett]

Bit confused by this purported "new development".  Generating H and O from water by running a current through the water between two electrodes has been around forever.  I remember my high school science teacher doing so in class back in 1977 (dating myself, I know).  It has been proposed before to store wind and solar power as hydrogen.  I'm not sure exactly why this is considered such a breakthrough.  The article is unclear regarding this.  I'm also not sure what photosynthesis has to do with this.

Yea they should be a bit more clear on what exactlly they did. I do know some of the universities have been working on solar cells that use organic plant life for the cells.

[moot]

Come on it's clear   It says it doesn't just classicaly electrolyze water, but uses a catalyst to make the reactions cheaper.

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera's lab, have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

The key component in Nocera and Kanan's new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas. The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity -- whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source -- runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.

Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.

The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up, Nocera said. "That's why I know this is going to work. It's so easy to implement," he said.

And the photosynthesis bit is just saying that photosynthesis' principle inspired their design. 

[Maverick]

Wow splitting the water molecule, That's great. Now what are you going to do about making a much larger supply of clean fresh ph neutral water so you have enough to make the fuel cell viable for the masses? Perhaps take it from the colorado river? Yeah Southern CA. doesn't need to have a drink for the next 20 years.
 

[moot]

Baby steps, Mav

[DieAz]

Now what are you going to do about making a much larger supply of clean fresh ph neutral water so you have enough to make the fuel cell viable for the masses?
 

there is "A New Hope"
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Moisture_vaporator

and a double    to you.

yanno the ocean is plumb full of fresh clean drinkable water. just need to separate the trash from it.
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/desalrpt/dchap1.html

The world's largest plant in Saudi Arabia produces 128 MGD of desalted water.

and you can use this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still
http://www.solaqua.com/solstilbas.html

something that might interest some.
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/split_h2o.html

now for an opinion for the dark side of Hydrogen power and the opposing views.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7586

[Maverick]

Try and convince a certain coastal location that they need to construct a desalinization plant at the oceans edge. In view of those who have rather expensive dwelling places with a view of that same ocean.........

[DieAz]

turn their water off, when they get thirsty enough, they will gladly build one next door.
eminent domain works too.

[Maverick]

Yep that has worked just dandy so far hasn't it.

[DieAz]

where there is a will, there is a way.

http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/wheretheresa.html

If you want something badly enough, you can find the means to get it.

[bj229r]

The recently retired Lt Col Bill Russell, who is running against Murtha, is pushing this technology hard---could be a boon for impoverished PA coal mining communities, heard him on Bill Bennet's radio show yesterday, guy sounds too good to be true

http://russellbrigade.com/issues/