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Scientists turn to Popeye to save planet
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor

04 July 2004

Scientists have enlisted a new ally in the battle to save the planet - Popeye.

They have found that spinach, which gives the cartoon sailor hissuperhuman strength, could be the power source the world needs to combat global warming. The discovery could lead to a new version of the old instruction: "Heat up your greens."

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported last week that the leafy vegetable could provide the missing ingredient needed to make solar cells sufficiently cheap and efficient to provide the world with electricity. The cells work by harnessing the power of photosynthesis to covert light into electrical energy.

The MIT team - which reports its findings in the current issue of the scientific magazine Nano Letters - isolated photosynthetic proteins from the leaves, laid them on a thin gold film, and covered them with an organic material that conducts electricity. When they shone light on this high-tech sandwich, power was produced.

Professor Marc Dando said that they aimed "to take advantage of two billion years of evolution" by building on the way that nature had developed to convert sunlight into electricity, rather than doing it artificially.

But why spinach? "There's a lot of it and it's very, very green."He added that the team was now experimenting with peas too, and had thought of using "Olive Oyl" as a stabiliser.

The olive is actually ahead in providing green energy. Five power stations burning olive oil already supply homes in Andalusia, Spain.

Hurray for Popeye!

I speculate there are more energy and health providing things on this earth than have been yet dreamed of or discovered.

Anyway, I am going to eat my spinach. Mother always said it was good for me. And now she has been proven right, besides I need the energy! :p


Jo

What do we do about Wimpy and Bluto? Is Olive Oyl in a bottle? Better let her out, because Popeye is coming.

>had thought of using "Olive Oyl" as a stabiliser.<

I guess as usual she's keeping them stable :p

>>>The olive is actually ahead in providing green energy. Five power stations burning olive oil already supply homes in Andalusia, Spain. <<<

Humm, I guess this means the leaves clean up the air while olives keep them warm Neat, dual action here! Our God is amazing, and he even gives us the brains to figure out the utmost use of his creations. I just wonder how many olives it takes to heat one home?

Pani Rose

Hmmm. Wonder if kudzu would work. (the vegetative matter, not the comic strip.) Might finally prove that the good Lord had a purpose for the stuff in the first place.


Sharon

Every year, the local newspaper prints a recipe for kudzu jelly. I haven't gotten up enough nerve to try it yet. Since it's jelly, it's probably 98% sugar anyway. But I am all in favor of finding a way to burn kudzu for energy. Even the environmentalists probably won't say much if that plant becomes extinct.

burn kudzu for energy>>>

The problem there is even the cows that they brought it over from England to feed won't burn it for energy

But, I think you are on to something there, we could just havest it and use it in the fireplaces for winter. Seems to be an inexhaustable supply of it! Sharon I didn't know it had made it up to Ohio. Then we could all be called tree savers

Pani Rose

I'm bemused

What the heck is this stuff ?

Pani Rose wrote:

I just wonder how many olives it takes to heat one home.

I don't know but I am stocking up. Electricity is just too expensive and propane is rising. :p


Blessings,


Mary Jo> trying to 'do mornings'

Kudzu is a vining plant that was introduced into the Southern U.S. years ago to control soil erosion. Unfortunately, it is very aggressive and has taken over the places where it was planted. You can see hillsides that are completely covered with the stuff. And it is nearly impossible to kill.

Actually it hasn't made it to Ohio, or at least not to Central Ohio - our winters are too cold.

It just seems to me that it's a waste of good spinach, LOL, and there is this utterly useless plant with big ol' leaves, that could be used. Evidently kudzu's photosynthesizing mechanism is topnotch, given its phenomenal growth....

Angela,

http://www.cptr.ua.edu/kudzu/
Sharon

Oh - we have some stuff called I believe 'Mile a minute' but it is IRCC a serbian vine - much smaller leafed than that [ your nasty variety ] with pretty white flowers. A house near us has one of these and it has destroyed [ well almost] the side wall of their garden. It certainly grows like mad but is a bare lot of stems all through the winter.

Taa for the education

Thanks Sharon!

I found out more about kudzu that I ever wanted to know...joking That is all really very interesting.

I had no idea it had so many uses. It must be the best kept secret in the south. :p

Pani Rose

Just a footnote: I emailed this page to my niece in Oregon. She and her husband own a nursery and just finished a Master Gardeners' program. She says that they did have kudzu in the Portland, Oregon area, but it has been totally eradicated there. Anyway, she found the postings yesterday interesting as so did I. (Only kidding about stocking up on olives)


Thanks.


Mary Jo