A man named John Kanzius has announced that he can “burn” salt water by applying radio-frequency radiation to it. The media have picked this up and are proclaiming to the world that the solution to the energy crisis and our dependence on foreign oil is at hand.
“This is the most abundant element in the world, water. Salt water is everywhere. And to see it burn actually gives me chills,” Kanzius says.
This guy is supposedly a physicist. Did he ever have a chemistry course? Water is NOT an element! It is a compound! What is it he doesn’t understand about the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen? It takes a LOT of energy to do that! As much or more than he will obtain by “burning” his salt water.
This is the silliest thing I have read in awhile. People like this take advantage of the scientific illiteracy of the American public, including people in the media who should know better.
He says that he would like to sell his patent rights to an interested party. I guess so! And maybe a snake oil recipe that will cure cancer too?
I would love it if some inventor-genius would find a cheap, pollution-free infinite energy source, but the reality is...it ain't gonna happen. The last energy hoax that we endured was "cold fusion." That one was a lot more credible than this one...but it turned out to be a hoax too.
I am afraid that we have to face the fact that there simply isn't any free lunch, energy wise. We need to quit dreaming about a miracle cure and start the slow, methodical process of weaning ourselves from our 'oil addiction' (one of the few intelligent things Dubya has said)
This means developing a spectrum of alternate energy sources, but mostly it means CONSERVATION, CONSERVATION, CONSERVATION. And that means getting rid of those gas-guzzling SUV's and 4WD pickups and buying some sensible vehicles to take little Johnny to soccer practice and to pick up a quart of milk at the market. Honestly, you do NOT need a Hummer or a Ford Excursion to do this!
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Comments: 26
I wish you or someone who knew about the technology would write about fuel from corn. It has probably been written and I missed it. Making corn into fuel would create a big shortage of corn syrup which will make prices go up, and raising corn would deplete fossil water which is also being used up too fast. There are too many negatives to make bio-fuel from corn. Maybe algae would work.
I have read about the corn scam. The energy required to produce the corn, which comes from fossil fuels, is about the same as the energy content of the corn, plus, as you say, the intensive agriculture depletes the soil and the underground aquifers. I think it is a huge boondoggle, an extension of the farm subsidies already being handed out to agribusiness. This is "renewable" energy at its worst!
Maybe one of these days I'll write about this. Such articles don't get much attention here, though, so it's sort of a waste of time.
If you get back to this thread, do a search on Gather. I wrote an article some time ago concluding that - given the yields reported for corn-based ethanol, we'd need every square inch on land from Canada to Mexico from Chicago to Denver planted in corn. Nobody needs to waste time getting subsidies for burning salt water when they can get subsidies for growing corn.
YES, YES, YES! I've been concerned when someone touts one way of solving the energy crisis. Hasn't our reliance on petroleum taught us that development of only one energy source isn't good strategy? It develops vested interests that make it hard to move on to better ways of doing things, and it has led many governments into dangerous actions and deal-making, such as wars.
Conservation is practical, but people perceive that it lessens their standard of living. Businesses catch on when they realize conservation cuts costs. How can we get people excited about conservation?
On the positive side, I've seen an increasing number of attractive public "green" buildings and one green parking lot constructed in my area, which speak to conservation.
We need to do all that we can in our personal lives and inspire others to do the same.
Gary...if you get back here...please post a link to your article on the corn-ethanol issue. I have looked through your articles and can't find it.
The article is titled "Corn in Your Tank?". I still can't add a link to a comment!!
LINK
I'll just stick to carpooling for now.....
I hope all is well. I posted about Iceland today (whoo hoo! 1 month till my trip) and I thought of you.
I've always been fascinated by what cruise ships do with salt water and the systems they have in place. I went to a talk by the Environmental Officer of the last one I was on. While on a ship we drink the water and it goes in the pools. They are not wasting our Earth's supply of freshwater while sailing on the salt one.
I'm all about clean energy. I think my brain went that direction when I realized I have no choice (my place in Maine will always be off the grid).
I think wind energy is next for us. Solar is working well, but wind would be perfect too!
Although there is no free lunch there are tax rebates and credits in some states. Also payment plans by solar companies that are going national (and hope to be the Home Depot of alt energy solutions). We put ours in a state where we could not get any of that (because we're not hooked to the grid). In MA we could take advantage of those programs and now we actually know what we're doing.
We're doing the best we can to educate others how easy it is. And hey, a solar panel powers my entire house in Maine and that's gotta be less per year than the $200+ I pay here in MA per month!
You're gonna love Iceland...and you are going at the right time of year. Just look out in Reykjavik. They party all night at this time of year!
Wind, solar, biomass, geothermal...maybe even tidal or wave generated power. We need them all! We should have learned our lesson with oil...not to put all our eggs in one basket.
The most important things about future energy supplies are: clean, renewable and minimum disruption to the ecosphere. Anything that meets those criteria should be investigated and , if they look feasible, they should get lots of government help. This is arguably the biggest crisis we face, and we have put off meaningful action for too long. Too much foot-dragging and obstruction by vested interests that don't want any competition for their current money tree.
Yes, it's our 2nd trip there--can't wait!! I wrote down one of the places to eat that you suggested a few months back. :)
We should pay more attention to Germany. I saw on the Science Ch (or maybe on Nova) that many homes there have solar and farmers have started setting up solar farms. Farmers there are finding harvesting solar is more profitable than even their crops. My husband used to joke that he wanted to become a wheat farmer when he retires, now he wants to become a solar farmer after seeing that. And the good news is the banks lend $ to set it up because they understand its the wave (and the profit) of the future.
:)
Check it out online...you'll be amazed what they have in Germany for solar power.
I envy you going up there. Have a great time!
Europeans use about half as much energy as Americans, and their lifestyle is at least as good as ours. Gasoline costs more in Europe. Governments there have decided that they do NOT want to do what we are doing...bankrupt their nation buying oil. So, they tax the Hell out of it, and the result is that car manufacurers there build much more energy-efficient vehicles. European cars must meet the current limit (34.1 mpg for gasoline, 37.9 for diesel) US limits are 27.5 for each manufacturer, but SUV's and pickups only have to make 22.2. These limits have not changed since 1990, despite major improvements in engine control electronics. Instead, the manufacturers have jacked up the power and performance instead of efficiency, and have fought any attempt by Congress to legislate higher standards. This battle continues to this day.
As long as the wealthy can choose to live wastefully and irresponsibly...because they can afford to...we cannot solve this problem. This is a perfect example of a situation where government must take action to encourage...or force if necessary...individuals to take actions that are in the best interests of all citizens.
Just because a person can afford to take actions that threaten everyone else doesn't mean they should have that right.