Corn may be good for popping, but is it also useful as an environmentally-friendly form of fuel?  Well according to some prominent ecologists at Cornell University, the answer is a surprising “No”.  Despite appearing to have some strong environmental benefits, the researchers found that turning corn into fuel uses much more energy than the resulting ethanol generates.  Indeed, corn requires a hefty 29 percent more fossil energy to create it than it saves with the fuel produced.  This also holds true using other biomass sources such as grass and wood, which require about 50 percent more fossil energy in their manufacture than such fuels contribute for use.  Thus it appears this report is husking some of the appeal right off of this green energy source.