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| Aspergillis on Tomato (Photo by Multimotyl) |
Fungi has often been the butt of some pretty bad jokes.
However, having “a fungus among us” might finally morph from a sore- to a soaring-subject.
Danny Gallagher of CNET
reports that scientists are turning to the common soil fungus, Aspergillis, in the hopes of “making a new jet biofuel.” Aspergillis is that yucky looking mold that grows on decaying fruit.
Researchers suspect that Aspergillis naturally produces hydrocarbons in order to defend itself against invading bacteria. Genetically-modified aspergillis can be made to produce even “larger quantities of hydrocarbons.”
With Aspergillis doing “the work of a biofuel refinery,” jet fuel might become easier and cheaper to obtain. Hopefully, these savings (rather than the Aspergillis itself) will then be passed on to airline passengers.
Resources
http://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-may-have-found-a-formula-for-turning-fungus-to-fuel/#ftag=YHF65cbda0
Copyright May 10, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
Copyright May 10, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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