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Who knew E. coli could be a gas?

If you think all ethanol starts its life in a cornfield, think again. Scientists at Rice have recently discovered a way to turn the major byproduct of biodiesel production — glycerin — into something that can fill your gas tank. “We identified the metabolic processes and conditions that allow a known strain of E. coli to convert glycerin into ethanol,” said chemical engineer Ramon Gonzalez. The new process could save ethanol manufacturers about 40 percent of the cost of traditional corn-based methods. Fueling your car with a cleaner, cheaper energy source — now that’s an innovation you can get pumped about!