You've surely heard those urban myths (?) where common foodstuffs and household chemicals are a molecule or two removed from toxic substances. The implication is that a mere chain of atoms stands between you and certain doom.

Well, here's some molecular tomfoolery that may help save the environment. Some enterprising Pacific Northwest National Laboratory chemists have devised a clean and efficient way of turning sugar into plastic. The goal is to tweak the process to also develop fuel in a manner that's more efficient than refining crude now. They warn, however, that this scenario is likely several years out...

The research could become the basis of a process that turns biomass such as trees, cornstalks and algae into feedstock for chemicals, plastics and fuels at roughly 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), which is a lot cooler than the 600 degrees C (1,112 degrees F) needed for oil refining or the high temperatures (as well as pressure) such oil must undergo when it is formed naturally.

Promising, but for now remember that pouring sugar into a gas tank is considered vandalism, not conservation.

Update: Ha! Turns out the sugar in the gas tank deal is an urban myth too! But it can cause problems for a car and it's still not a very nice thing to do.