Methane Harvesting Invention

Harvesting the potent greenhouse methane directly from cows’ bellies is the focus of one of the entrants to the annual NASA's Create the Future Design Contest 2010. Although the design contest features numerous sustainable innovations from around the world – ranging from technologies to clean up oil spills to the energy generating sewing machines to converting highways into biomass carbon sinks – the Methane Harvesting from German designer Metin Giousouf caught our eye as an invention indicative of not really addressing the main problem of ruminant animal methane.

It shows that some scientists and inventors are unfortunately focusing on continuing to exploit animals as food sources rather than reducing human over- consumption of carbon-intensive meat and dairy.

“A stomach tube is placed at the suitable place, which might be done by minimal invasive intrusion by an expert. The methane gas is pumped out of the cow’s stomach, flow/pressure-regulated and filtered by a smart battery and solar operated device on the belt,” describes the NASA Create the Future Design Contest website.

NASA's Create the Future Design Contest 2010 offers a grand prize of US$20,000. You can cast your vote online.

Visit: http://contest.techbriefs.com/

Via CrispGreen

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