Scientists across the globe have been looking for alternative fuel sources for years, but a group of researchers at Tulane University may have stumbled across one source nobody considered – old newspapers.

The team of scientists believes that a bacteria found in old newsprint has the ability to turn organic material into butanol, which can be used as a gas-tank substitute, The Detroit News reports. The bacteria was first discovered in the New Orleans zoo, and the researchers say this finding could have a significant impact on alternative energy.

"In the United States alone, at least 323 million tons of cellulosic materials that could be used to produce butanol are thrown out each year," Harshad Velankar, a scientists working with the research team, told the news source.

While the findings are exciting, it is still a long way off until the fuel source is ever implemented. According to the publication, a patent is still pending on the strain and whether or not is is commercially viable will remain to be seen.

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