SilasBarta comments on Why safety is not safe - Less Wrong

48 Post author: rwallace 14 June 2009 05:20AM

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Comment author: SilasBarta 14 June 2009 11:40:44PM 2 points [-]

Yes, the US military is extensively researching how to convert nuclear energy + atmospheric CO2 + water (all of which are in no short supply) into traditional fuel. New York Times article about it. The only thing holding it back from use is that it costs more than making the fuel from ordinary fossil fuels, but when you account for existing taxes in my most countries, if this method weren't taxed while other taxes remained in place, "nuclear octane" would be cost-competitive.

Comment author: CronoDAS 15 June 2009 05:58:04AM 2 points [-]
Comment author: SilasBarta 15 June 2009 10:00:35PM 2 points [-]
Comment author: CronoDAS 15 June 2009 10:05:32PM *  1 point [-]

Indeed. It's a hard resource to exploit, that one, but it has been done. ;)

It's harder to hitch a ride on a bird than it is to turn plants into car fuel, though, but, on a less silly note, the fact that so much fertilizer comes from petrochemicals and other non-renewable sources seriously limits the long-term potential of biofuels.

Comment deleted 15 June 2009 03:08:09PM *  [-]