Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus.

These tiny thermophilic bacteria first found in a hot spring in New Zealand could unlock the door to hydrogen as a viable, less-expensive fuel source.  Currently, it is the most abundant, but the process to extract it from water and other compounds has proven to be costly and in many ways impractical.

A detailed DNA study conducted by Amy VanFossen and her team at North Carolina State University had encouraging results.  They were presented last week at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia.

“The production of hydrogen by microorganisms is intimately linked to their cellular processes, which must be understood to optimize bioenergy yields,” said Amy VanFossen of North Carolina State University.

As the studies continue and merge with other research being done, we may find ourselves filling up at biomass stations instead of gas stations.

(via LiveScience)