Energy Tech : There's Still Some Buck Rogers Stuff Out There

Buck Rogers #1, Melbourne, Fitchett Brothers, 1936-1953 / Monash University Rare Book Collection.
'There is still some Buck Rogers stuff out there that might become important if we can just back the smart people who are not in the oil business.'
By Steve Russell / The Rag Blog / November 25, 2008

As we detach ourselves from a national energy policy written behind closed doors by oilmen, we naturally move to proven technology that is underused in the United States: wind, solar, geothermal.

But, you know, there is still some Buck Rogers stuff out there that might become important if we can just back the smart people who are not in the oil business.

Here we have hydro power from slow currents.

Here we have hydrogen power accomplished by splitting water as needed rather than storage. Therefore, no big infrastructure required.

Here we have carbon captured by algae that turns into biofuel.

All of this stuff comes from fundamental research of the kind ridiculed by John McCain during this election cycle.

Some of it no doubt will not come to fruition, but putting science back on the national agenda can only be a good thing in the long run.

The Rag Blog