The discovery, published in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to new ways to produce hydrogen fuel, a clean-burning alternative to fossil fuels.

Hydrogen-producing enzymes are found in certain bacteria and algae. These enzymes split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, releasing hydrogen gas as a byproduct. However, formaldehyde, a common industrial chemical, can inhibit the activity of these enzymes.

The researchers, from the University of California, Berkeley, found that they could prevent formaldehyde from inhibiting hydrogen-producing enzymes by adding a small molecule called glyoxylate to the enzyme solution.

Glyoxylate reacts with formaldehyde to form a compound that does not inhibit the enzymes. This allowed the enzymes to continue producing hydrogen gas even in the presence of formaldehyde.

"This is a significant breakthrough," said Dr. James Barber, a professor of chemistry at UC Berkeley and one of the authors of the study. "Formaldehyde is a major inhibitor of hydrogen-producing enzymes, so finding a way to prevent this inhibition is a big step forward in the development of hydrogen fuel production."

The researchers believe that their discovery could be used to develop new methods for producing hydrogen fuel from water. Hydrogen fuel is a clean-burning alternative to fossil fuels, and it could be used to power cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

"We are excited about the potential of this discovery," said Dr. Barber. "We believe that it could lead to new technologies for producing hydrogen fuel and helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels."