"Eat those peas!" How many times have you heard that from your parents?

Well, one day, peas might be more than just those little wrinkled green things staring up at you from your plate. That's because scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Peoria, Illinois, have figured out how to turn peas into fuel.

That's right, fuel—the kind that goes into cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

Sound crazy? It's not, really. Have you heard of ethanol (say "ETH-uh-nol")? It's a fuel made from sugars naturally found in starch—the same silky smooth powder used to thicken gravy and soups.

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