Whether or not offshore drilling becomes a reality, the fact is that fossil fuel is a limited resource. It took millions of years to create the reserves that we access today. There is however a technology that mimics the process. It's called thermal depolymerization. It converts biomass like plants and animal waste into oils. And, a lot faster than it takes to create fossil fuel! Try hours, instead of millennia.

Alternative fuels means better, right? Less pollution, cleaner burning, you get the picture. Well, not always. A group of eco-focused scientists recently released a study of "alternative fuels," and there are some surprising polluters on it. The greenest alternative of all? Well, here's a hint: it's green.

What do you get after you empty a barrel of fermented beer or whiskey (besides a hangover)? Spent grain! And what do you do with this spent grain? Some scientists are looking at how to use it for bioethanol, an alternative fuel.

As oil and gas prices soar, ethanol and biodiesel get more attention as alternatives. But can biofuels really replace conventional fuels? Recent research has focused on both ethanol and biodiesel to see which is better.

One of the great success stories in energy self-sufficiency is Brazil. Forty percent of the fuel that runs Brazil's automobiles comes from the country itself, a number rivaling that of some major petroleum-producing nations. But the source of Brazil's power is not oil, but sugar cane.

Rising gas and utility prices, to say nothing of growing concerns about global warming, are fueling increased interest in alternative energy. Finding comprehensive information on this popular topic can be tough...[Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues includes] cost comparisons and a valuable appendix with sources for further study complete this encompassing energy reference. This book features an overview of new techniques and advancements in the efficiency of various types of alternative energy sources such as: Biomass Energy, Fusion Power, Geothermal Energy, Hybrid Systems, Hydroelectric Power, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Photo-voltaic Cells, Solar Energy, and Wind. --Amazon.com

Order Alternative Energy: Facts, Statistics, and Issues today.

Here's a puzzle with a face you've just got to love. Click here to begin. Or, if you're up for a more challenging puzzle, click here. It promises to be electrifying. And to go along with our energy theme this month, how about an amazing view of thermal hot springs in Yellowstone? The colors are awesome. Click here.