A POWERFUL USE FOR A COMMON SUBSTANCE.

LET’S SEE IF THE AUTHOR CAN DO THIS PIECE WITHOUT PUNS OR PERFIDIOUS ALLITERATION.

A childhood crank call went something like this:

Name three cars that start with “P”?

(The Author will play) “Pontiac, Plymouth, Puegot.”

“No stupid, those cars start with gas, not “P”.

Well, perhaps not for much longer.

URINE A “CLEAN” ENERGY SOURCE, PER AN ARTICLE IN DiscoveryNews.

An article from July 8th on DiscoveryNews describes how urine is a rich and potentially inexpensive source of hydrogen.

Urine-powered cars, homes and personal electronic devices could be available in six months with new technology developed by scientists from Ohio University.

Using a nickel-based electrode, the scientists can create large amounts of cheap hydrogen from urine that could be burned or used in fuel cells. "One cow can provide enough energy to supply hot water for 19 houses," said Gerardine Botte, a professor at Ohio University developing the technology. "Soldiers in the field could carry their own fuel."

Hydrogen is a potent and carbon-free source of combustion. When hydrogen combines with oxygen, it produces water. Hydrogen combustion has been touted as a solution to both oil and global climate change concerns. But there is one problem. Hydrogen takes more energy to produce than it provides

URINE IS HYDROGEN RICH AND MORE EASILY STRIPPED OF ITS HYDROGEN THAN WATER.

One molecule of urea, a major component of urine, contains four atoms of hydrogen bonded to two atoms of nitrogen. Stick a special nickel electrode into a pool of urine, apply an electrical current, and hydrogen gas is released.

Botte's current prototype measures 3x3x1 inch and can produce up to 500 milliwatts of power. However, Botte and her colleagues are actively trying to commercialize several larger versions of the technology.

A fuel cell, urine-powered vehicle could theoretically travel 90 miles per gallon. A refrigerator-sized unit could produce one kilowatt of energy for about $5,000, although this price is a rough estimate, says Botte.

And it takes less electricity to release hydrogen from urine, where it is bound to nitrogen, than it takes to separate hydrogen from oxygen, as in water.

By attaching hydrogen to another element, nitrogen, Botte and her colleagues realized that they can store hydrogen without the exotic environmental conditions, and then release it with less electricity, 0.037 Volts instead of the 1.23 Volts needed for water.

Perhaps cheap gas may one day be replaced by profligate pee.

STAND IN LINE AND PRODUCE IN THE DESERT OF THE REAL!