Energy

            From the everyday drive to work, to the industrial factories, everything requires energy. With the natural resources depleting, and pollution and global warming increasing, new and better sources of energy is needed. As technology advances, new efficient sources of energy also emerge like fusion, and hydrogen. Older technologies can also be advanced; sources such as solar power, wind, geothermal, and hydropower.
             Currently, most of the world is powered by the burning of fossil fuels and other natural resources, but these resources are rapidly being depleted. Although these are very good sources, they emit various types of pollution including greenhouse gasses which cause global warming. Fortunately, more and more newer technologies are beginning to replace the natural fuels.
             Transportation is very important today. From cars to airplanes, they all burn fuel. Since the natural fuels are quickly running out, new fuels are invented. Beginning in 1998, many new American automobiles have been built so that they can burn gasohol. Gasohol is a mixture of gasoline and alcohol (mostly methanol or ethanol). Although emissions of carbon dioxide cannot be reduced, many other pollutants are reduced, and gasoline is also conserved. Unfortunately, this fuel is much more expensive, so therefore is not seen readily on markets.
             Another alternative fuel that can be used in automobiles is hydrogen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and is relatively easy to obtain. The burning of hydrogen with oxygen will produce no pollutants. The only exhaust is water. In 2002, Toyota released the first hydrogen powered car. The hydrogen is stored under high pressure in vessels made of carbon fiber composites, and then is slowly released into a tank where the pressure is very low. This hydrogen is then moved into the fuel cell, where it is reacted with oxygen. It is the energy created in this reaction that powers the car.