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Oil shortages are over, we're gonna squeeze it from diatoms

Researchers say there's enough oil made by tiny diatoms to power the planet. Or at least reduce worries about "peak oil.
Written by Harry Fuller, Contributor

Researchers say there's enough oil made by tiny diatoms to power the planet. Or at least reduce worries about "peak oil." We simply have to harvest it, "milk" it they say. Diatoms are single-cell algae that naturally produce oil as part of their living activities. Diatoms, these scientists say, are far more efficient at producing biofuel than plants. As much as 200 times as much over the same amount of territory. The reseracher suggest altering diatom genetics to make them even oilier. Give 'em a lawyer gene, perhaps? Diatoms, of course, live in water not in Iowa. Not a lot of electred officials from open ocean so not sure who's gonna get the subsidies passed to develop this industry.

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