Tonight's guest, Harry Braun, is an expert on renewable energy such as hydrogen. Fuel cells can be made to produce clean energy derived from hydrogen. But to use hydrogen on a widespread scale as a clean fuel and power source, the stumbling block has been how to find cost-effective methods. It's thought that as more advanced storage systems for hydrogen are developed, it could become cheaper and more readily available for usage.
Here are a few facts on hydrogen:
- Hydrogen is the lightest of all the elements, and is composed simply of one proton and one electron.
- The universe is made up of 90% hydrogen, with our sun's mass composed of 30% atomic hydrogen.
- On Earth, hydrogen is most abundant in water. Under most conditions it's a colorless gas that is also odorless, tasteless, and non-poisonous.
- Henry Cavendish, an English chemist and physicist is credited with discovering hydrogen in 1766, when he produced water from hydrogen and oxygen.
For further info check out these websites:
American Hydrogen Association
Hydrogen Information Network