What is the purpose of termites?…

Those incredibly destructive little creatures have the potential to benefit
humans in the production of biofuels. Or more precisely, the bacteria in
their stomachs. Termites process the wood they ingest in a series of stomachs,
each with a distinct set of bacteria.  Those bugs within bugs release enzymes
that break down cellulose, the sugar chains in wood, into acetate, a fatty
acid that provides the termite’s energy. Scientists with the Joint Genome
Institute at the U.S. Department of Energy, hope to develop a process to
harness the power of these bacteria on an industrial scale to break cellulose
down into ethanol and provide biofuel without using food crops as a source.
The Energy Department plans to invest in six biorefinery projects that could,
when completed, turnout more than 130 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol
a year.

To idle or not?…

Have you ever been stopped at a railroad crossing, with the length of the
train hidden from view and pondered, to kill or not to kill the car engine?
Idling for periods as short as 30 seconds consumes more gasoline than turning
off the engine and then starting it again. What’s more, excessive idling can
cause a buildup of fuel residues on cylinder walls, spark plugs and other
engine components, which eventually leads to even greater inefficiency and can
increase fuel consumption by 4 to 5 percent. Idling an auto for 10 minutes a
day pollutes the air and uses up approximately a whole tank of gas a year,
according to the U.S. Department of Energy.