@enchantedgoose: Sunshine power, free forever, no gas.

nocar

Basically, any chemistry that requires splitting H2 into 2H (such as in a fuel cell) or forming H2 from 2H, requires platinum as a catalyst. Considering the rarity of platinum, without breakthroughs like this (if it works) a hydrogen-based transportation system would be impossible.

crazydave_w

@enchantedgoose: fuel cells no use platinum anymore. platinum expensive. plastic good. scientists awesome.

@ackthbbft: Perhaps! It'll be interesting to see how all these technologies get combined to make the ultimate fuel cell.

Elaine Chow

Some people were complaining about that new MIT solar-storage invention still requiring platinum. Perhaps this will help with that, as well?

ackthbbft

i only understand the first 6 words of each paragraph

enchantedgoose

This is the first actually viability "green" tech I've heard of in over 3 years. If it works, caveat emptor.
You still need hydrogen to make the fuel cell work and there is still no energy efficient way to to make that(maybe that MIT photosynthesis thing?). Then you have the problem or driving around with a bomb in your car(compressed hydrogen). Like 3 years ago there was some Sweede's saying they could trap high amount of hydrogen into solid pellets; where did that go? With all this green talk lately you are going to see all kinds of people promising the future to raise money. Just like in the late 70's. Now is the time for sucking money from the dumb asses following science with their hearts than their heads.
There is also no mention of the possible weight, cost of the new plastic, how it recycles, or how much space it takes up. I could go on but my radar goes off like crazy when they leave out the important details.

fastm3driver

(Begin sarcasm)
I think we should scrap the whole thing and drill for more oil - it's cheap and there's plenty of it! While we're at it, let's just eliminate all funding for alternative fuel and storage research as it's obviously a waste of time. People want and need large trucks and SUVs to go to the grocery store with - none of this pesky trying to come up with a better solution business.
(End sarcasm)
Awesome week in science!

zarchitect

@zarchitect: Right, for now we should drill like crazy and build a bunch of nuclear power plants and maybe a few wind mills.
(no sarcasm)

fastm3driver

@fastm3driver: If scientists worried about every "important detail" nothing would ever get invented. These guys are on the opposite side of the planet from MIT in Cambridge. It's great that they both had breakthroughs toward solving a different aspect of the same problem. They are not P.R. flak writing press releases.

(also note: fuel cells have many other uses than moving cars.)

nocar

@fastm3driver: Hydrogen fuel is actually safer than gasoline because if a hydrogen tank is punctured, it dissipates harmlessly into the air. Hydrogen was not the culprit of the Hindenburg or Challenger.

ceilingFANBOY

Yes this is a good week for renewable energy. Hope it reaches market fast, i;m looking to buy solar panels for my house and run car on hydrogen.

Felix26591

@zarchitect: "I think we should scrap the whole thing and drill for more oil"

We don't need to "scrap" anything, or "eliminate funding" for anything to drill for more oil. There is plenty left, but there's no reason not to work at the problem from both ends. It says something that your "sarcasm" makes more sense than your actual meaning.

GadgetPlay

nuclear energy is where its at!!

malcs

Solar cell film that can be printed onto rolls of paper. Breaking down water into Hydrogen and Oxygen that can be stored (used perhaps in Honda's Hydrogen type car) to be turned back into electricity for the house or car. I see the technologies starting to come together in a meaningful and affordable way.

If I had the money I would be thinking of inking contracts with the researchers and doing a startup business producing units for homes and industry. The begining of a new infrastructure that could bring to reality practical hydrogen type of hybrid vehicles.

Dollarbill4

What is it with all this crap recently, and I do mean crap. C'mon people, it's just another load of crap that isn't going anywhere. Take it from me (I do research in this area). There's a whole lot of stuff going nowhere fast.

rockntrumpet

@Dollarbill4: "If I had the money I would be thinking of inking contracts with the researchers and doing a startup business producing units for homes and industry."

It's a shame that this has not occurred to anyone but you.

@aaj111: "I'm beginning to wonder if Australians are smarter than Americans."

It would appear not. No group is smarter than Americans. (It's a shame that I must say this before the outraged flaming occurs, but no group is smarter than any other. Except the Irish.)

GadgetPlay

I'm beginning to wonder if Australians are smarter than Americans.

aaj111

@enchantedgoose: you made me laugh out loud
@Elaine Chow: you also made me laugh out loud
@fastm3driver: you made me cry
@rockntrumpet: you also made me cry

liquidsoapdispenser

Say goodbye to nuclear power.

jacktaka

@fastm3driver: "Right, for now we should drill like crazy and build a bunch of nuclear power plants and maybe a few wind mills.
(no sarcasm)"

Oil has far more uses than powering our cars. We're better off leaving it in the ground for later. While it is now possible to make some types of plastic out of food crops, durable plastics are still limited to oil. Look around you and count the number of durable plastic items and ask yourself what they'd be made out of otherwise, if anything at all.

Build the nukes. Build the wind turbines. Let the market decide the right time to pull the oil out.

shawn_dude

Very interesting. As a fuel cell scientist, I do not need too many "important details". Just one: how LONG does it work? It is not the first non-precious catalyst. Many die in just hours... Still, very interesting...

MerrillBabakin