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Unlike the experiments performed so far, where bacteria inside watery solutions could produce hydrogen only in the presence of outside electricity, the device invented by the PSU researchers uses a process called "reverse electrodialysis" to create electricity inside a microbial fuel cell from the difference in salinity between the two water solutions.

"What sort of changes can we make to this initial pilot plant that we're going to put up, to make it so it can operate economically at a small scale," Kevin Shiell, scientific director for New Brunswick Community College asked. "This may be too small, but maybe a million liter plant we can actually get it so that it is feasible."

"For instance, we found that the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle was much weaker 4,300 years ago than it is today. This weaker cycle persisted for almost two centuries."

Along the way, the family have given wildly varying accounts of his condition. A lawyer acting for his eldest daughter, Makaziwe, told the court that Mr Mandela was in a "permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine".