The future may prove otherwise but the reality is that hydrogen has not proven to be the great answer that some have suggested.
IV. Comparing popular press and professional viewpoints
As one might expected, the treatment provided the issue of hydrogen use has received different treatment in the popular press than it has in the professional journals. In the popular press, the emphasis has been on the how the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel would benefit the whole of society. Little attention is provided the technical problems related to the use of hydrogen or the requisite changes that must be made in order to accommodate the changeover to hydrogen. Instead, the popular press tends to point out the environmental and consumer advantages. Meanwhile, the scientific journals, where the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel was first introduced, approach the issue from a more technological viewpoint. The scientific journals have dedicated considerable space to the underlying problems that the production of hydrogen present in order for hydrogen to be seriously deemed a viable fuel source. Professional scientists recognize that abandoning fossil fuels as the primary energy source is a complicated process and that any transition to a new reliance on an alternative energy source will be both difficult and slow.
Consider, for example, a fairly recent article that appeared in the periodical, Scientific American . Although Scientific American is not a widely distributed magazine such as Time or Newsweek, it is still intended to be available to general public and found on newsstands in airports, grocery stores, and book stores throughout the country. The magazine's mission is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public. In its July 3, 2008 issue, Scientific American addressed the issue of using hydrogen as a replacement for gasoline as a fuel source for our cars (Scientific American). In typical popular press style, the article centered on the practical advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen's usage but skimmed over the technical details. The article offered virtually no statistical support one way or another and instead focused on popular consumer concerns such as cost, environmental impact, and availability.
Compare, meanwhile, an article that appeared in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy in October of 2006 (Kinaci). This article which was intended for distribution and review by the scientific community addressed the consumer oriented issues only as part of its overall analysis of the viability of hydrogen as an alternative energy source. The bulk of the paper is focused on the statistical analysis of hydrogen usage and the production process. The information contained in scientific journals and magazines is presented in exacting detail. This detail is of little interest to members of the general public but is of vital importance to the scientific community. After all, it is from the scientific community that the technological improvements needed to make hydrogen a viable option as an energy source will eventually originate. It is through the use of professional journals, magazines, and newsletters that the scientific community shares it ideas and concepts. Hopefully, this process of sharing will lead to the development of technological improvements...
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