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Chemist Matt Moranville watches another scientist's experiment on algae at General Atomics in San Diego. The goal is to separate the oil from algae and produce a clean biofuel. Several dozen companies are racing to try to figure how best to extract it.

Making biofuel from algae

( Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times )

Chemist Matt Moranville watches another scientist's experiment on algae at General Atomics in San Diego. The goal is to separate the oil from algae and produce a clean biofuel. Several dozen companies are racing to try to figure how best to extract it.