It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “one for the road”. Whisky, the spirit that powers the Scottish economy, is being used to develop a new biofuel which could be available at petrol pumps in a few years.

Using samples from the Glenkinchie Distillery in East Lothian, researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have developed a method of producing biofuel from two main by-products of the whisky distilling process – “pot ale”, the liquid from the copper stills, and “draff”, the spent grains.

Copious quantities of both waste products are produced by the $3 billion dollar whisky industry each year, and the scientists say there is real potential for the biofuel, to be available at local garage forecourts alongside traditional fuels. It can be used in conventional cars without adapting their engines. The team also said it could be used to fuel planes and as the basis for chemicals such as acetone, an important solvent.

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Researchers have designed a toothbrush that cleans teeth by creating a solar-powered chemical reaction in the mouth, doing away with the need for toothpaste.

The Soladey-J3X has a solar panel at its base that transmits electrons to the top of the toothbrush through a lead wire. The electrons react with acid in the mouth, creating a chemical reaction that breaks down plaque and kills bacteria. The toothbrush requires no toothpaste, and can operate with about the same amount of light as needed by a solar-powered calculator.

The researchers have already tested the toothbrush in cultures of bacteria that cause periodontal disease, and demonstrated that the brush causes complete destruction of bacterial cells.
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The Sunfish™ from Clarian Power is a next-generation solar power module that’s affordable and easy to install – anyone can do it. Patent-pending technology allows home owners to plug solar power into an existing outlet without the expense and hassle of larger turn-key systems.

Works Just Like a Home Appliance:

• Portable and plugs into any outlet with power you can use anywhere in your home
• Unlike existing micro-inverters, the Sunfish™ has built-in circuit protection and doesn’t require a dedicated electrical panel
• No contractors, no installers, no additional wiring, and no drywall to tear out – up and running in about an hour
• Same cost as a household appliance with a payback in 3-4 years or less
• Web-based tracking and monitoring with onboard Wi-Fi, upload data directly into Google PowerMeter

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Fred Flintstone could only dream of such a car. The HumanCar Imagine PS, a four-seater vehicle that uses hand cranks, can take on hills at 30 miles per hour, exceed 60 mph on flat terrain and is expected to hit the market next year.

HumanCar is the self-funded brainchild of Charles Samuel Greenwood, an engineer who has been working on developing the perfect human-powered vehicle since the late 1960s.

Now, it looks like his car is actually getting somewhere.

The company is now taking order for next year and for $50 dollar reservation you can get your name on the list to buy.

HumanCar

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Image by Getty Images via @daylife

An enzyme found in the roots of soybeans could be the key to cars that run on air.

Vanadium nitrogenase, an enzyme that normally produces ammonia from nitrogen gas, can also convert carbon monoxide (CO), a common industrial byproduct, into propane, the blue-flamed gas found on stoves across America.

While scientists caution the research is still at an early stage, they say that this study could eventually lead to new, environmentally friendly ways to produce fuel — and eventually gasoline — from thin air.

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