Scientists Invent A Car That Runs On Seaweed

Studies have uncovered lots of amazing benefits that seaweed offers. Aside from being delicious and loaded with nutrients, researchers from the University of the West Indies just discovered that seaweed can be used to power cars. 

According to the BBC, the Caribbean-based team came up with the idea to convert Sargassum, a family of algae that includes edible types often used in Asian cuisine, into bio-compressed natural gas in hopes of reducing Barbados’ emissions output. Sugarcane was initially used but didn’t provide the necessary combustion. A student came up with the novel idea of using sargassum instead. 

So, the team incorporated it into the process, which also includes wastewater from local rum distilleries and anaerobic bacteria from the dung of the island’s native sheep. It took years to develop, but the first test drive proved successful. 

The team was able to power a Nissan Leaf, bringing attention to the potential of sargassum biofuel. It only takes about four hours and $2,500 to convert a gas-powered car to a sargassum-fueled one, per the BBC report.

Photo: BBC