Fuel

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Fuel is any material that is burned or altered to obtain energy and to heat or to move an object. Fuel releases its energy either through a chemical reaction means, such as combustion, or nuclear means, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. An important property of a useful fuel is that its energy can be stored to be released only when needed, and that the release is controlled in such a way that the energy can be harnessed to produce work. Examples: Methane, Petrol and Oil.

All carbon-based life forms—from microorganisms to animals and humans—depend on and use fuels as their source of energy. Their cells engage in an enzyme-mediated chemical process called metabolism that converts energy from food or light into a form that can be used to sustain life. Additionally, humans employ a variety of techniques to convert one form of energy into another, producing usable energy for purposes that go far beyond the energy needs of a human body. The application of energy released from fuels ranges from heat to cooking and from powering weapons to combustion and generation of electricity.

For more information about Fuel, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with fuel

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Researchers engineer bacteria to turn carbon dioxide into liquid fuel

Researchers engineer bacteria to turn carbon dioxide into liquid fuel

Biology / Biotechnology

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (42) | comments 25

(PhysOrg.com) -- The genetically modified cyanobacterium consumes carbon dioxide and produces the liquid fuel isobutanol by using energy from sunlight.


Advanced nuclear fuel sets global performance record

Advanced nuclear fuel sets global performance record

Technology / Energy

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (21) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Idaho National Laboratory scientists have set a new world record with next-generation particle fuel for use in high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs).


'Rock-breathing' bacteria could generate electricity and clean up oil spills

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created 1hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

A discovery by scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) could contribute to the development of systems that use domestic or agricultural waste to generate clean electricity.


Ethanol-powered vehicles generate more ozone than gas-powered ones

Space & Earth / Environment

created 7 hours ago | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 4

Ethanol, often promoted as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that could help wean the nation from oil, would likely worsen health problems caused by ozone, compared with gasoline, especially in winter, according to a new study ...


INL develops safer, more efficient nuclear fuel for next-gen reactors

INL develops safer, more efficient nuclear fuel for next-gen reactors

Technology / Energy

created Nov 30, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (15) | comments 7

As the nation ponders its energy choices, Americans keep asking themselves: how can the country make better use of its resources and emit fewer greenhouse gases without hurting U.S. industries? A research ...


NRL's Ion Tiger sets 26-hour flight endurance record

Hydrogen-Powered Ion Tiger Sets 26-hour Flight Endurance Record

Technology / Energy

created Nov 30, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (7) | comments 2

The Naval Research Laboratory's Ion Tiger, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell unmanned air vehicle (UAV), has flown 26 hours and 1 minute carrying a 5-pound payload, setting another unofficial flight endurance record ...


plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

Pulling the plug on hybrid myths

Technology / Energy

created Nov 19, 2009 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (16) | comments 31

(PhysOrg.com) -- Whether you call them myths, urban legends, fables or old wives' tales, there's a lot of misinformation out there about plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. These vehicles, abbreviated PHEVs, ...


Glimpsing a greener future

Glimpsing a greener future: Computer model foresees effects of alternative transportation fuels

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity 2.5 / 5 (4) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- It's the year 2060, and 75 percent of drivers in the Greater Los Angeles area have hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that emit only water vapor.


New science estimates carbon storage potential of US lands

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 2.8 / 5 (6) | comments 4

The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change.


Munich lab demonstrates diesel truck engine with barely measurable emissions

German researchers demonstrate diesel truck engine with barely measurable emissions

Technology / Engineering

created Dec 07, 2009 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (6) | comments 1

Just three months after the Euro 5 Norm for exhaust emissions went into force for all new car models, researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM, Germany) have demonstrated an engine that is ...


American drivers fond of their gas guzzlers will have to quickly learn to love greener cars

Green cars to get Copenhagen boost

Technology / Energy

created Dec 03, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

American drivers fond of their gas guzzlers will have to quickly learn to love greener cars, which are expected to get a big boost from upcoming international climate talks in Copenhagen.


Rocket science leads to new whale discovery

Rocket science leads to new whale discovery

Biology / Other

created Nov 24, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Rocket science is opening new doors to understanding how sounds associated with Navy sonar might affect the hearing of a marine mammal - or if they hear it at all.


Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples

Other Sciences / Social Sciences

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 1 / 5 (2) | comments 0

When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally grown apples than genetically modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire consumers preferred GMO apples - that is, when they ...


Eco-Friendly SUV Gets a Hydrogen Mileage Boost

Eco-Friendly SUV Gets a Hydrogen Mileage Boost (w/ Video)

Technology / Energy

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- Driving hydrogen fueled SUVs for 431 miles per fill-up is no longer a California dream. Researchers from NREL and Toyota recently completed a 331 mile round trip drive between Torrance and ...


New forest fire detection system prototype installed at Lake Tahoe

New forest fire detection system prototype installed at Lake Tahoe

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 07, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Graham Kent, Nevada Seismological Laboratory director at the University of Nevada, Reno is leading the installation, testing and maintenance of a novel way to monitor forests fires and other environmental ...