Category: 2009 Society of Environmental Journalists conference

An energy haiku

Ants work in the lab

Cutting leaves, tending fungus

Will they save the world?

During a trip to the Department of Energy's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, we observed a study being conducted on leaf-cutter ants. Scientists are observing how the insects disassemble leaves and break the pieces down to feed a fungus on which they, in turn, feed. The hope is that the ants' ability to break down cellulose can be harnessed to develop alternative fuels that use biomass instead of petroleum.

What is biomass? Basically, it is leftover plant parts - think corn husks. Biomass is difficult to break down, which has hampered its development as a widespread fuel source. But, the ants may teach us a quicker way to break down this material. The advantage of fuel created from biomass, as opposed to ethanol made from corn, is that it doesn't cut into the food supply. It simply takes leftover products and makes them useful again!

Pretty cool, huh?!

To learn more about lead scientist Cameron Currie's ant research, including another study on the ants and antibiotics, check out this video: