Hi All

This one is all over the net but here's one link...

Repulsive gravity

...Franklin Felber has solved the GR equations for moving masses and has discovered that at v = c/(sqrt(3)) the gravity field of the mass becomes focussed into a cone in the direction of motion and is actually repulsive. The focussing enhances the g-field by -(gamma)^5, so at high gamma factors the field is immensely enhanced. A mass at gamma = 10 would repel objects with a force 100,000 times the Newtonian value of gravity.

For some reason the Press has made this into some kind of propulsion concept, but unless you're talking about whirling neutron star binaries we're not going to find anything massive enough to repel with a decent force.

Another article from Wired discusses the formation of ethanol from cellulose decomposition by bacterial enzymes, including possible advances coming from termite gut bacteria...

Ethanol from bugs

...now that's really good news if it can be fast-tracked to ween us all off damned crude.

Adam