New Technology is Everywhere!

Researching for that competition I entered, I was constantly being amazed at random things I found out. Rice husks, which are a waste product of the grain, can be burned to not produce enough energy to run steam turbines, apparently the ash that gets created can be used to reduce the amount of cement in mortar. Don't get me started on the wonders of tapioca.  I thought bamboo was a wonder material. Tapioca is a close second (but only because you can't build skyscrapers from it).  It can be used in adhesives, in textiles, in making plywood, not to mention yummy teas and pudding!  I first heard about it when I met someone talking about using it as a sealant to waterproof houses in Thailand.  I've been researching that on the internet, but I can't find any resources on that.  But when I do, you'll be the first to hear about it.
One of the random facts I learned was when I was trying to figure out if burning cow dung patties for fuel created a hazardous health environment.  I've read about cooking smoke creating lung problems in developing countries, but I wasn't sure if it was just the smoke in general, or if there was something specifically in cow dung that made matters worse. I didn't find that out exactly, but I did find a random youtube video about a guy in Thailand (coincidence?) who figured out how to power his motorcycle using cow dung.  Apparently if you mix it with water and ferment it in what looked like a still, you produce a fuel that an engine can run off of.  I just spent over a hundred euros (about $150) to fill up the gas in my car the other day.  That could have bought me a ton of dung producing Thai cows, and even more Thai tapioca!