Who needs gasoline when you have sandwich bags? Perfectly Reasonable.

After recent innovations, this post title may actually be less sarcasm and more reality.

By heating plastic bags, scientists in India have created a method for creating liquid fuel from plastic bags and other items. Considering the extremely large amount of plastic based products we use on a daily basis, this new discovery may prove to be very useful. Maybe this is India's way of challenging the Middle East's current monopoly on oil sales. Asian countries have to make money too! Especially when you have the second biggest population in the world...

Plastic bags are commonly made with petrochemicals which are commonly found in petrochemical fuels. Yes, I know; who would have expected petrochemicals to be in petrochemical fuels? Anyway, by heating these plastic bags between 400 to 500 degrees Celsius, the scientists are able to extra carbon molecules from the polymers of the plastic bags. With the use of gas chromatography, scientists are able to identify these chains of carbon molecules as substances chemically similar to petrochemical fuels. I guess the 400 degree Celsius minimum rules out the possibility of melting plastic bags in a frying pan to make gasoline? Unless your kitchen stove is more like an incinerator.

For every kilogram of plastic, scientists are able to make 700g of liquid fuel! Scientists will try to advertise this technique, for it holds the potential of alleviating pressure from landfills. Read more in the article: http://www.chemistrytimes.com/research/Put_a_plastic_bag_in_your_tank.asp.

I already drew attention to how many plastic products are used on a daily basis, but now think of how many end up on the ground. Even if some are disposed right, people just decide to dig these holes called landfills and put them in there with all of our other trash. Since plastic isn't biodegradable and oil is a finite resource, why not make a better use for it than tossing it in a hole! So study science because it helps mankind undo all the screw-ups it makes. There's probably not enough science to learn in order to undo all of the United States' mistakes. . .