I hesitate to call this "new" really; it often surprises me how many reports there are along the lines of, "University researchers discover that combining wheat, yeast, and water can create bread!"  But it's nice to know that studies are being done and papers are being written.  Sooner or later, someone will take notice and implement some of this stuff, right? 

http://newatlas.com/chicken-poop-weeds-biofuel/49362/