We always say the oceans are full of life, but across the globe, there are actually huge dead zones where fish and other wildlife cannot live. Why can't they live there, you ask? After waste water is deposited into the oceans, nitrogen is released and oxygen disappears.
Researchers from Stanford are not only trying to make our oceans cleaner, but produce a renewable form of energy, as well. Using a system grounded in rocket science, the researchers found a way to remove the nitrogen from the water and break it down to create nitrous oxide.
They can then burn the nitrous oxide as fuel and use it to power their system. This reduces the cost of the clean-up procedure and also offsets their energy demands.
The team hopes to implement their project on a larger scale. In fact, they are already working with a treatment facility in Oakland to pilot their program.