Any simple alcohol is composed of a number of carbon and hydrogen atoms (like a hydrocarbon such as petrol) together with a single oxygen atom.

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To liberate the hydrogen, Virginia Tech scientists separated a number of enzymes from their native microorganisms to create a customized enzyme cocktail that does not occur in nature.

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The third selling point: Hydrogen could, in principle, deliver energy independence to every nation because it can be derived using any number of sources-including oil, natural gas, nuclear fission, coal, hydroelectric power and wind.

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The reaction between hydrogen atoms to make helium has the biggest yield, but subsequent mergers all the way up to iron (number 26 on the periodic table) will release some energy.

ECONOMIST: Sir Fred Hoyle