Energy of the future

 Joey Fernandez

4/24/12

(Author's note: This is my science piece on energy from algae)

            Algae are commonly referred to as pond scum. People don’t think much of it.  Algae are plants that contain a high amount of natural oil. Researchers today are finding out that they can make biodiesel fuel from this oil, and that algae is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It is being called “The ultimate in renewable energy” (Algae: ‘The ultimate in renewable energy’, 2008).  Being able to make a lot of oil in a short amount of time gives algae the potential to surpass crude oil and become one of the world’s largest energy producers.

            One of the best things about algae oil is that it is a very practical energy source. It is clean, so it won’t contribute to global warming. Algae are also very versatile; we can grow it almost anywhere in the world. It can be grown in almost any pond, but "A pond has a limited amount of surface area for solar absorption," (Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy', 2008). Algae oil is grown in vertical chambers for optimum solar absorption, so it not found, therefore it is a renewable resource. Algae oil is one of the few energy sources that is both clean, and efficient.

            Energy production isn’t the only use for algae. It can be used in a variety of ways. Algae are a food for many types of fish, but humans can eat it too. It is used commercially in many health care products. Algae also are a natural filter, so it is used to clean polluted bodies of water. Algae can get stop pollutants being used, and clean up the damage they already have done.

            It seems that algae oil is the perfect clean energy source, but right now it has one major flaw, it is very expensive. While you may think four dollars a gallon for gas is through the roof, algae oil costs about thirty dollars a gallon. Algae can grow anywhere, but the problem is harvesting it. Scientists haven’t yet found a way to do this cheap and efficiently. However, scientists project that they will keep coming up with technology to help with this problem. It will take another five to ten years until we can actually use algae oil as an energy source practically, but once we get around this problem, algae oil will be used as a very viable resource.

            Algae oil is a great idea and should defiantly be invested in. With all the big oil companies harming the environment, we need a source of clean energy that is reliable and practical. I think algae oil will be the answer or at least a key piece to solving the energy crisis. We may not use it now, but when the technology comes out; I believe algae will become one of the top energy sources.

           

Bibliography

Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy'. (2008, April 1). Retrieved April 20, 2012, from cnn: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-04-01/tech/algae.oil_1_algae-research-fossil-fuels-nrel/2?_s=PM:TECH

Bushwick, S. (2012, January 27). Micro-Bubbles Cut Cost of Algae-Derived Biofuel. Retrieved April 19, 2012, from scientificamerican: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=microbubbles-cut-cost-of-algae-deri-12-01-27

Marine algae seen as ideal biofuel source. (2012, April 3). Retrieved April 19, 2012, from UPI: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/04/03/Marine-algae-seen-as-ideal-biofuel-source/UPI-48521333493352/

Uses of Algae. (2007). Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Infoplease: http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0856558.html

Walton, M. (2008, April 1). Algae: 'The ultimate in renewable energy'. Retrieved April 2012, 2012, from CNN: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-04-01/tech/algae.oil_1_algae-research-fossil-fuels-nrel?_s=PM:TECH

Moods in writing pieces

Every writing piece ever written has a mood. Moods set the feeling and determine how the piece is read. People sometimes see moods differently when reading poems, but when music is added and poems become lyrics, the mood is much more defined. The mood is the part of the piece that people will never forget. All writing pieces are affected by the mood the author creates.

Many poems are light and happy, while others are dark and gloomy. The mood helps allows you to describe poems with adjectives with feeling. For example, some poems about cozy fires in a cabin in the middle of winter makes you feel warm or a rainy scene of people mourning over something makes you feel sad and cold. Without a mood, poems wouldn’t have any effect on anybody.

When poems are turned into songs, the most challenging part is finding the instrumental background. When songs are made, they want to reflect the mood on the pace and music. If a sad song about death, heartbreak, or failure had an upbeat tempo, it would make it seem that the song was happy, especially if the artist sang it fast and happy too. Moods are the most important part of a poem, and if it doesn’t match with everything else, the poem will seem very contradicting.

            Moods are the soul of any story. If a mood is changed, the story changes drastically. If The Giver had the mood of happy and worry free, it would be a much different book. The mood has the power to shape stories around them. Without a mood, there can’t be a connection between a reader and the book.

            Moods are the voice of the piece. They are the things that communicate feeling to the reader. Without moods, writing would be lifeless and easily forgettable. Each piece has their own unique mood. If this mood was changed, the piece changes drastically. I’m believe that the mood is the most influential part of any piece.