Scientists may have found a new source of fuel that won't dry up the earth's resources. US scientists found out that fructose, sugar found in fruit such as apples and oranges, can be converted into a new type of low carbon fuel for cars.

On the other hand, a British report says that all types of waste products, including plastic bags, can be used to make biodiesel fuel. Critics say, however, that biofuel is not the way to go. Farmers who realize how much they can make from making fuel switch to its production, neglecting food and driving up prices in the process.

Even so, it's not easy to ignore what the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered. Simple sugar fructose can actually be turned into fuel called dimethylfuran, which is more efficient than ethanol - it can store 40% more energy and doesn't evaporate as easy.

Sounds good? Hitting two birds in one stone can't get any better, if we can get both food and fuel from fruits alone. Of course, there's always a catch. It would cost 10 times more to set up a production facility that churns out fuel from sugar than building biofuel refineries. Oil companies will also no doubt complain against what seems to threaten their market.

Right now, we can't expect dimethylfuran for commercial use. In the near future, maybe. The time our cars are running sugar, those will be the good days.

A recent Roper survey commissioned by Sharp Electronics Corporation revealed that almost 90 percent of Americans believe that solar electricity should be an option for all new home construction. This shows a significant increase in interest in solar power as last year's survey showed that interest was only around 79 percent.

Below are the survey's findings as per the press announcement made by Sharp Electronics Corporation:

• 87 percent feel that homebuilders should offer solar power as an option for all new homes; older Americans are less enthusiastic, with 77 percent of those over age 65 supporting solar on new homes
• Respondents understand that solar power can be used to turn the lights on (82 percent), heat bath water (82 percent) or heat a swimming pool (80 percent)
• Respondents are less likely to understand that solar can power electric devices such as computers or appliances (71 percent). Americans over age 65 are least likely to recognize this functionality (56 percent). Those in the Northeast (63 percent) and Midwest (65 percent) were significantly less likely to identify this functionality for solar energy, compared to those in the South (75 percent) and West (78 percent)
• 82 percent say that a decrease in monthly energy bills is their primary motivation for installing solar power; other respondents indicated it was to reduce overall energy usage (79 percent), reduce oil dependence (77 percent) or because it is a secure source of energy (75 percent)
• 56 percent would be interested in learning more about solar for their homes if the system could be obtained for zero money down and their utility bills would be lowered right away. Younger adults, ages 25-34, are more encouraged by monetary savings, with 67 percent expressing interest.

Now that interest in using Solar Power as a means to save on electricity bills is on the rise, it seems that what the major companies need to do now is to figure out a cost-effective and affordable way of integrating Solar Power into homes.

Not all empires are evil. Well, not fast food chain empires at least. McDonald's has decided to do something for the common good, and not the good of their top brass' pockets - transfat oil will now slowly be removed from all US branches.

Transfat oil may enhance the taste of food, but it's also a known cause of obesity and artery clogging. Burger King was sued by a nutrition advocacy group for using these oils, and McDonald's definitely don't want to follow suit.

The transition will be done slowly to avoid a drastic change in taste of fried foods. It's pretty much the same oil in different blend and without the hydrogen additive, but it never hurts to make sure to deliver quality products expected from the worldwide chain.

McDonald's now uses uses a healthier oil in 3,500 restaurants (from 1,200 back in January) and will expand its use to all 13,700 locations within a year, said company spokeswoman Lisa McComb. If you think you're still eating in a place with transfat oil used, don't get paranoid yet. You can still lose extra calories by playing sports, or the Wii. Sounds like Wii Sports is hitting two birds with one stone.

It has been said many times before that we, as a race, should look for alternative energy sources. When it comes to diesel fuel, the world currently is relying mostly on gasoline and ethanol. However, there's a problem here because most of our ethanol resource come from corn plantations.

While most countries are still looking into this crop, (which we should have been using as a source for food if we may add) the farmers of China, Brazil, and India are trying to tap the potential of jatropha. Many experts believe that the plant is the most viable and promising source of biodiesel.

As a matter of fact, tens of thousands of acres for the cultivation of jatropha have been set aside in the above mentioned countries. China, for example, is planning to have 80,000 acres of jatropha plantation by 2010 in one province alone. However, Fuels from Agriculture in Communal Technology's (FACT) Kees Daey Ouwens in The Netherlands cautions,

Nations and corporations have acted rashly coming to the idea that it is the final answer for many problems. Jatropha is very promising. But there is not enough information to start on such large scales. If they are patient enough, they will find some buyers very soon, because the message is getting out.

The good thing about producing jatropha oil is that it only has one conversion stage. All one has to do is use a hydraulic press to squeeze the oil from the seeds and a chemical solution to create and filter the fuel. It really is much more economical for most nations, not to mention more environment-friendly.

Ideally, one hectare of of jatropha produces 1,892 liters of fuel. But as mentioned, there is still only few available information about the plant that scientists are still considering several factors like ideal conditions for growth, susceptibility to disease, or expected yields per acre.

Ethanol, an alcohol-based compound derived from plants is in the forefront of candidates to replace fossil fuels. As oil supplies run low, and nations get more conscious about the environment, technology harnessing the power of the substance is moving forward.

However, a new study shows that ethanol may be just as health-threatening as natural gas. The ethanol exhaust from the smoke of vehicles blends in with smog and creates a poisonous brew that is dangerous to living organisms. The study says that about 200 more people will die annually if the US was to undergo a complete switch.

"If you want to use ethanol, fine, but don't do it based on health grounds. It's no better than gasoline, apparently slightly worse," says Mark Jacobson. Jacobson is the head of the study and is an environmental engineer at Stanford University. "It's not green in terms of air pollution," he adds.

Jacobson's study was modeled using computer applications. The conclusions derived are based on actual data which was processed to provide an approximation of Ethanol's effects. The study is to be published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal.

Chez-williams.com compiles a list of the world's hottest sauces, and we're already sweating just from read ing it. To give you an idea: Tabasco sauce doesn't even make it to the list, scoring only 2,140 in Scoville units.

Scoville units? How is the spiciness of food measured, anyway? Capsaicin is the chemical in hot peppers that is responsible for their heat. Named after pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, Scoville units measures capsaicin in peppers, with bell pepper having zero Scoville units and habanero peppers having  100,000 to 300,000 Scoville units.

Starting from the bottom, we picked out some sauces to show their scale in Scoville units.

1. Dead Heat - Hot Sauce Harry's limited edition, coming only in 600 bottles, has a Scoville rating of 100,000 units. It even comes with its own coffin and death certificate.
2. Not Cool Chocolate Habanero Sauce - Coming from a patent pending cultivar and rating at 225,000 Scoville units, this sauce has the flavors of coffee and cocoa.
3. Dave's Private Reserve - Claimed to be the first and only product ever to be banned from the National Fiery Foods Show, this sauce scores 300,000 Scoville units. Every bottle has been hand-signed, numbered and dated by Dave.
4. Hard Time Humble Sauce - 400,000 Scoville units in a bottle of Red Savina habaneros.
5. Pure Cap - This mixture of vegetable oil and capsaicin has a rating of 500,000 Scoville units and is 100 times hotter than a Jalapeno.
6. Smack My Ass and Call Me Sally...The Slap Heard Around the World - Despite the silly name, this sauce has been featured in national magazines, and rated having 700,000 Scoville units. It's the hottest condiment on earth.
7. Satan's Blood - Said to have been conceived during a full moon on Friday the 13th in October, 2000. It's chili extract and red wine vinegar, coming at 800,000 Scoville units.
8. Mad Dog's Revenge - Scoring at 1,000,000 Scoville units, this product is not a hot sauce or a condiment, but a chili extract to be used in recipes by the drops as food additive only.
9. Demon Ichor - One of the most potent, ready to use pepper extracts available in the market, scoring 2,000,000 Scoville units.
10. Blair's Caldera - A collectible item with pure capsaicin crytals suspended in oil. It scores 10,000,000 Scoville units.

We recommend you not to use the poisonous crystals of the latter part of the list, but for the record, chilies are healthy. Capsaicin in peppers lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, wards off strokes and heart attacks, speeds up metabolism, treats colds and fevers, prevents cancer and controls pain.

Still worried about the Super Size Me syndrome supposedly caused by yer favorite fast food McDonald's? Well your worries will soon be over. McDonald's Corp has announced that it has finally selected a new trans-fat-free cooking oil for its world-famous fries.

Undergoing several years of testing, the healthier new oil is now ready for use, although they haven't exactly said when all 13,700 branches will have it. Walt Riker, in behalf of the fast-food giant, says that the mystery oil is already in more than 1,200 U.S. restaurants after extensive testing, although he did not expound on any more details about it.

He did confirm, however, that the new oil is canola-based with corn and soy oils. "We're very confident in our test and taste results. We're very confident in what we're hearing back from our customers."

What spurred McDonald's to change oil, so to speak, is the New York City ordinance banning all restaurants from using artificial trans-fats. While the company has been saying that they will comply with the NY ban, they did say that it will also be a blanket overhaul for the chain, and not just its New York-based branches.

Have you ever imagined the day when you won't have to make a trip down to the basement or to the laundromat to have your dirty clothes washed? Well, the U. S. military apparently have. That's why they spent more than US$ 20 million to develop a fabric that can be worn hygienically for weeks without washing.

The technology in the fabric supposedly attached nanoparticles to clothing fibers via microwaves. The nanoparticles themselves have chemicals which can repel water, oil and bacteria. This coating then can kill bacteria, as well as forces liquids to bead and run off.

But don't get it wrong. The military didn't come up with this just because they couldn't get their laundry cleaned. Actually, this was deviced as protection for soldiers against biological weapons. According to Jeff Owens, one of the scientists who worked on this wonder-fabric, "During Desert Storm, most casualties were from bacterial infections -- not accidents or friendly fire. We treated underwear for soldiers who tested them for several weeks and found them hygienic. They also helped clear up some skin complaints."

Interesting. But, I don't know about you guys. It doesn't matter if the clothing can clean itself off. I don't think I'd have the stomach to wear something for days on end without ever having good ol' water and soap touching it. Thank goodness we ain't in Desert Storm.

Hmmm...but maybe there'd be some who'd prefer to go commando?

U.S. scientists may take the lead in the field of high-energy physics - or lose that position to Europe. Right now, with the U.S. Congress and Administration held hostage to oil industry executives and a small, but influential group of religious fanatics who reject science for a narrow and literal interpretation of the Bible, the future of important new research related to anti-matter is very much in doubt.

Scientists at Fermilab have discovered a "bizarre particle" that whips back and forth between the states of matter and anti-matter at the incredible rate of 3 trillion times a second. This discovery could lead to further discoveries of fundamental particles and potential new forces that may be harnessed for new technology.

Unfortunately, the Fermilab may have to close down by 2010 if Congress does not approve funding for a new linear collider. Given the multi-billion price tag, and the fact that current Congressional priorities focus more on tax breaks for wealthy corporations and the finance of wars to secure oil supplies, it is probable that the U.S. will lose this opportunity to Europe, where a new, even more powerful particle collider is scheduled to go on-line within two years.

The most recent findings shows that the thirty-nine-year-old Fermilab can still make  "breakthrough discoveries. "This remarkable tour de force details with exquisite precision how the antiworld is tied to our everyday realm," said Raymond Orbach of the U.S. Department of Energy. "It is a beautiful example of how, using increasingly sophisticated analysis, one can extract discovery from data from which much less was expected."

These experiments, while promising great advances in technology that could have immeasurable benefits for society and the world, are very expensive. The recent study in which the new particle - known as the B sub s meson - was discovered required a team of 700 physicists from over 60 countries.

Given the priorities of the current U.S. Administration and Congress, chances are that, barring major changes,  the study will not go much further. One can only hope that an increasingly discontented American citizenry will get out to the polls for the mid-term elections in November and demand a more accountable, responsive, and science-supporting government.

Omega-3 fatty acids, or DHA, first gained respect when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave it a "qualified health claim" status in possibly reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

DHA comes mainly from cold-water oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines, but because we have callously turned our oceans into a cesspool, many species of fish now contain methyl mercury levels that exceed the FDA's 1 part per million (ppm) limit. 

In fact, the FDA said fish should not be eaten more than once a week to ensure safety. So how do you get your DHA but not mercury into your system? Wellness International Network just launched its WINOmeg3complexTM ($49.99), a concentrated pharmaceutical-grade oil with 88% omega-3 fatty acids. Because the oil is produced through an enzyme process and molecular distillation, it is guaranteed to be free of mercury and other pollutants that we dumped into the environment in the first place.

Now that we have cleaned up omega-3 fatty acids, isn't it about time we cleaned up our oceans, too?