NASA has put out a proposal for a greener fuel source for launching satellites, rockets and eventually space taxis.  Space launches add “several kilotons” of carbon dioxide into the air each year.  So far it isn’t a large percentage of the CO2 that gets spewed from cars, trains, planes and ships, but over the next several decades that could change.  Because more governments and private enterprises are looking at space for new ventures, less harmful fuel is needed.

A new plane design based on a bird would allow the hydrogen fueled plane to fly anywhere in the world without the need to stop for refueling.  On top of that the plane would generate no harmful emissions.

Fuel cells have been touted as the successor to batteries since they are able to convert water to hydrogen gas which would power everything from handheld devices to cars.  One of the major problems preventing greater use of fuel cells for energy is the cost of the most common catalyst, platinum which currently costs around $1,800 an ounce.

Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) in Canada has expertise and experience with hydrogen buses. They just can’t use them anymore.  Unfortunately, the buses proved too expensive to run and so the buses are being shipped back to Ford.

Mix together gamma-cyclodextrin, an eight-membered sugar ring produced from biorenewable cornstarch, potassium chloride, a common salt substitute, or potassium benzoate and Everclear, aka grain alcohol and create an accidental discovery (see the full recipe below).  Sounding like a recipe  for a wino, a new edible metal-organic framework (MOF) has been developed by researchers at Northwestern University, UCLA, and University of St. Andrews in the UK.  The new edible MOFs are expected to replace those made from petroleum products.  These new nanostructures could be used for “gas storage and food and medical technologies.”

Researchers at Purdue University have developed hydrogen fuel cell technology that doesn’t require a catalyst.  Instead the fuel cell harnesses both hydrolysis and thermolysis or hydrothermolysis.  It uses aluminum borane and water to generate the hydrogen needed for fuel cells. 

Here’s a new twist on an old theme, using hydrogen fuel cells to power your portable devices.  The MiniPAK works off of the HydroSTIK fuel cells that Horizon makes.  Each HydroSTIK will provide two to three charges for a smartphone or four to six charges for your basic cell phone.  Since you can swap the HydroSTIKs out while charging it makes it easy to charge your portable electronics even while camping.

Just like Henry Ford who wanted every family to have one of his cars, Horizon Fuel Cell wants every home to own one of its hydrogen products.  Horizon has hydrogen powered miniature cars for hobbyists,  science kits for kids, a hydrogen filling station for your desk, hydrogen powered generators- both stationary and portable, hydrogen power assisted bikes, and hydrogen fuel cells for cars and unmanned aerial systems. 

This is the second piece in the Green Holiday shopping series.  What gadgets exist that are unique,useful, fun and environmentally friendly?  Let’s find out.

A few of the items found here, are not only environmentally friendly but they are also altruistic.  For instance IKEA offers a low cost solar lamp.  For every lamp you buy, Ikea will donate one to children whose homes lack electricity.

Iceland is on the global warming forefront with glacial melting exceeding predictions.  Because of the growing effects of global warming, Iceland has been moving toward abolishing all fossil fuels by 2040 with hydrogen playing a large part in the energy shift.