Experts say pond scum may give cheap, limitless supply of hydrogen fuel

(Washington-AP) -- Scum is good.<br><br>It might provide us with fuel after oil and natural gas run out.<br><br>Hydrogen is considered an ideal fuel of the future, but the problem has been finding a way

Monday, February 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- Scum is good.

It might provide us with fuel after oil and natural gas run out.

Hydrogen is considered an ideal fuel of the future, but the problem has been finding a way to produce it cheaply. Now, scientists say ordinary pond scum may be the solution.

Tasios Melis of the University of California, Berkeley, says algae has the ability to live in two radically different environments.

In ordinary air and sunlight, it uses photosynthesis like other plants. But when deprived of a key nutrient, sulfur, and forced to
live in an oxygen-free environment, algae reverts to an alternate life style in order to survive. Under these conditions, it makes
hydrogen.

The findings were presented today in Washington at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.