http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/09/27/jellyfish.solar.power/index.html
Ok guys, here we have some scientists that are basically blending jellyfish like an episode of "Will It Blend?", but the end product is a lot more helpful than the things they blend on that show. They take the jellyfish goo, which is better known as green fluorescent protein (GFP) that basically acts as mini solar panels. They've found out that they can use enough to power a digital clock, which definitely isn't a lot of power, but the way that the power is generated through the solar cell has an amazing efficiency. This could potentially be used to power internal medicinal systems. This would be an insane breakthrough in biomedical engineering. But again, the harvesting of this power on a larger scale is going to take time and research, but it's definitely a possibility for the future. Scientists have also found a way to grow the same GFPs using bacteria, but without using jellyfish, which makes for a happy ending for PETA or whoever else is worried about the safety of the jellyfish population.
This idea of using jellyfish as a solar energy source is awesome! To my knowledge these creatures have no inherent natural purpose besides being a nuisance. Given the recent jellyfish explosion near Japan (see http://www.examiner.com/world-news-in-national/global-warming-jellyfish-population-out-of-control-along-japanese-coastline) this idea could provide an economic incentive for fisherman to remove these annoying species from the world's oceans. Furthermore, given that there are estimated to be billions of jellyfish this new technology sounds promising. While powering a digital clock is not an amazing feat, the fact that researchers have discovered a way to convert jellyfish into an energy source is the real breakthrough that seems to me to have amazing growth potential.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your enthusiasm to kill jellyfish and puree them into fuel :)
ReplyDeleteThis technology may sound promising, but it has the potential to cause a lot of environmental controversy. Though we may not know what it is, jellyfish must serve some purpose. I don't feel like they'd still exist if they didn't; they must balance something out in their ecosystem. The article mentioned tapping into algae photosynthesis as an energy source. I feel like this would be less controversial, but as with most things, I'm sure it would still meet some sort of opposition. Though the technology may seem promising and the resources abundant, I feel like the low efficiency, low energy yield, and the environmental impacts will greatly hinder this technology.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid i would have to agree with rmpoling, jellyfish may be annoying but are still a part of the environment. and play a part in keeping the food chain in balace. beside using jellyfish would only make us dependent on another source that will eventually run out and we'll be back to square one. focusing on algae photosynthesis would be a much better idea.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThrowing a bunch of jellyfish into a blender, grinding them up, and then use the energy/slime created to power my alarm clock does sound like fun. It really does. But, there are environmentalists around the world who would shoot down this idea in a heartbeat. We are not reaching a more efficient tomorrow by killing organisms that will only act as one more extinguishable energy, that doesn't even have anywhere near the energy output of coal or oil. Wind energy is booming these days. That's where our attention needs to be; focused on the energies that are not only renewable, but that "blow by" every day without being harnessed.
ReplyDeleteMeh, the value of the miracle of life is overrated. Sweden has been burning their overpopulation of bunnies for fuel for years. =)
ReplyDeleteOk y'all, first of all, they're just jellyfish. Second of all, it says at the end that they would just artificially grow the same thing so you jellyfish lovers don't get all offended and angry! It's just cool to think that they're making power using jellyfish. They aren't gonna kill the whole population for goodness sake..
ReplyDeleteOh and Ben, that bunny/meat thing is hilarious! And by saying this I am now the worst vegetarian EVER....but it's just some humorous that people burn dead animals for fuel nowadays!
ReplyDelete