Speaking as a chemist, I disagree.
petroleum contains mainly carbon and hydrogen, you need nitrogen
(protein) and trace elements, Iron, etc to survive.
We use petroleum to produce our food now.
j.
> Speaking as a chemist, I disagree.
> petroleum contains mainly carbon and hydrogen, you need nitrogen (protein) and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> j.
I'm a chemist, too, but you don't even need such a background to know this thesis is
absurd.
Photosynthesis captures the energy from sunlight, and stores it as potential energy
in chemical bonds. The very fact that we are warm-blooded stems directly from the
release of this stored sunlight in our bodies. Burning wood in a fireplace is
releasing stored sunlight. I can't think of better or less expensive synthesis
factories than are plants. Put a tiny seed in the ground, and come back months
later. Voila!
It may be possible to create food molecules in a lab, but it is most certainly not
efficient to do so. Moreover, we are not yet even clear on just what chemicals food
needs to contain to provide health to the consumer. To think that we've discovered
all the vitamins (or whatever we might choose to call the necessary bits in food) is
a little bit arrogant.
I wonder just what "miracle" was contemplated by the original poster.
Lar
Philippic - 17 Dec 2004 19:11 GMT
"Larry Hoover" <larryhoover@sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:fvCwd.17918
> I wonder just what "miracle" was contemplated by the original poster.
I think he works for *Halliburton*...!
Philippic