Scientists turn air into petrol.

[Barry Scott]

Seems rather exciting to me.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/fuel/9619269/British-engineers-produce-amazing-petrol-from-air-technology.html

[Matchworn Shirts]

Woman can turn money into air

[Ardiles]

The unintended consequences of 'free' energy would be pretty horrific, I would imagine.

[4D]

Most of us can turn food into gas

[kerry red]

I liked this bit

'While the technology has the backing of Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers, it has yet to capture the interest of major oil companies. '

I wonder why??

[AldbourneRed]

Interesting that it essentially dehumidifies the air as part of the production process.

I wonder what the consequences on the atmosphere, climate etc would be if this was taken to a truly industrial scale (i.e. enough production plants to fulfil the planet's entire petrol requirements).

Dryer air takes less energy to heat up, the amount of energy received from the sun would not change so you might think that the air would be warmer than it is now. Of course this all all based on very simple physics and my observation that a dehumidified room is quicker to heat. Admittedly a planet is slightly different to my lounge.

[Barry Scott]

I wonder what the consequences on the atmosphere, climate etc would be if this was taken to a truly industrial scale (i.e. enough production plants to fulfil the planet's entire petrol requirements).

Dryer air takes less energy to heat up, the amount of energy received from the sun would not change so you might think that the air would be warmer than it is now. Of course this all all based on very simple physics and my observation that a dehumidified room is quicker to heat. Admittedly a planet is slightly different to my lounge.

[cynic]
And here would be something akin to the propaganda the oil/energy industry would try to push out to ensure their billion dollar industries remain in control.
[/cynic]

Although I see your point, but I imagine that the atmosphere of the entire world would be impossible to dehumidify to such a degree.

[Samdy Gray]

Might be a good time to invest in some alternative energy funds.

[nevillew]

Dehumidifying the air might make growing food problematical.

[AldbourneRed]

Although I see your point, but I imagine that the atmosphere of the entire world would be impossible to dehumidify to such a degree.

You're probably right, it would definitely be interesting to see how much air had to be processed to produce a litre of petrol. I kind of have this picture in my head of a reverse Didcot power station sucking all the air out of Oxfordshire (actually.... I can't see any drawbacks to that  )

Although I do think you're being too kind on the oil/energy industry - I imagine the propaganda they'd use would be much more underhand.

[Batch]

kind of have this picture in my head of a reverse Didcot power station sucking all the air out of Oxfordshire (actually.... I can't see any drawbacks to that  )

The resulting low pressure would "suck" all of the inhabitants out like a sudden decompression in an airplane. Having Ghanima arrive in Wiltshire would be bad enough, let alone the yellow filth ..

[RobertT]

I think Mythbusters busted the myth about decompression sucking everything out Batch.

[Batch]

I think Mythbusters busted the myth about decompression sucking everything out Batch.

Don't ruin a dig at Ghanima with facts