Great Vats of Pond Scum

There is growing interest in using algae as a source of fuel, reports this article in the New York Times. Industrial and academic researchers developing algae, through artificial selection and engineering, that are "superalgae, highly efficient at converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into lipids and oils that can be sent to a refinery and made into diesel or jet fuel," the Times says. The risks of developing such "superalgae" are low, experts in the article say, as engineered algae wouldn't be competitive against natural algae and some companies may include suicide genes or make the algae to be "Round-up Ready." "Nothing will go into the drains, Mr. Mayor," Craig Venter said at a San Diego ribbon-cutting ceremony. "San Diego is safe."