Plastic waste is choking the planet, but scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) may have found a jaw-dropping solution. By co-gasifying plastic with coal, they’re turning mountains of discarded trash into hydrogen-rich syngas, a powerful fuel with the potential to replace fossil fuels.

The innovation is as clever as it is unexpected. Coal acts as a natural catalyst, reducing tar and boosting efficiency, while plastics that once polluted landfills are now a source of high-energy fuel. By adjusting feedstock blends, researchers can fine-tune the gas for different energy needs — from power plants to industrial processes… maybe even rockets.

This breakthrough could redefine waste management and energy production, offering a dual win: cleaner energy and a solution to the growing plastic crisis. Imagine a world where the trash we throw away today powers the technologies of tomorrow.

Could this be the moment we finally turn pollution into profit? The future is closer — and it smells like hydrogen.