New Uses for Old Technology

Ok, maybe this is a little weird. But I've been studying some basic science principles. And it seems to me that some of our alternative energy sources could be lying right under our noses. First of all, the whole problem with solar energy, is how do you hold on to it overnight? Enter the Layden Jar. A basic simple device created hundreds of years ago to first hold an electric current. Simply some metal and glass and viola, instant energy storage. So basic, so simple. Don't you love it? I don't know how much energy it can hold, or how big it would have to be for a household use. But it is low tech and cheap. Just recycle all those Snapple bottles and you have instant energy holding capacity.

Speaking of batteries. Did you know the first battery was using some metal and salt water to create an electric charge. Hello? Does this sound too good to be true? It probably is. And 70% of the world is covered in salt water. So, who's not putting their thinking hats on. I'd say if all of this is true, our entire seaside is untapped energy.

Ok, so on to the next big idea. Wind turbines. Love em or hate em, we have lots of wind in some places. The problem is getting enough steel to build these babies. What about all the steel cars rotting in garbage dumps. Can we recycle cars to make clean energy? I even thought maybe we could recycle all those big laundry detergent bottles into wind turbines. Its light, very strong and goodness knows we have enough old ones lying around. Gives new ideas huh?

Well please don't laugh at my ideas if you are a scientist. I did figure out that there should be extra oil laying in the Mexican side of the Gulf of Mexico. So I figure I must have a nose for energy. But I will save some of my more controversial thoughts on science for another article.

So that's it in a nutshell. Using old techniques for new purposes. Seems like a good idea to me. Sometimes it's a good idea to recycle those old techniques. Seems like too much emphasis is placed on biotechnology and stem cell research when we have some oldies but goodies lying around, I know some people are trying to split water to make hydrogen, but we don't even need to do that. Just use old technology in a new way. Works for me. Sometimes simple is good.