Final answer:
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are formed from the breakdown of dead plants and animals that occurred millions of years ago. The processes involved in their formation have remained consistent, but humans are using them much faster than they are formed. Researchers are looking for ways to speed up the production of fuel from plant matter to reduce dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are produced by the breakdown of dead plants and animals that occurred hundreds of millions of years ago. The processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels have remained relatively consistent over time. However, the rate at which humans are using fossil fuels today is much faster than the rate at which they were formed.
Coal is formed when dead plants are subjected to high pressures and temperatures over geological time. Oil and natural gas, on the other hand, are formed from organisms that lived in water and were buried under ocean or river sediments. Heat, pressure, and bacteria transform the organic material into oil and natural gas.
Researchers are looking for ways to speed up the production of fuel from plant matter because fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and their use contributes to environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change. Finding alternative sources of fuel, such as renewable energy sources, can help reduce these negative impacts.