The Greatest Threat To Human Civilization
This is good, but I look at it a bit differently. I would add “climate change mitigation” to the list of things everyone wants. (I would add “universal healthcare” to the list too.) (more…)
Trump’s Foreign Policy Initiatives
What’s the story with the tariffs on China? The deal with Iran? Regime change in Venezuela? Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula? (more…)
Wells, Wires, and Wheels
That’s the title of a recent report from French-based global banking group BNP Paribas, predicting the end of the oil industry. It’s discussed here, where the author explains why he believes that solar, wind and EVs will be the death of petroleum . (more…)
Tagged with: BNP Paribas, capital inefficiency of oil and gas exploration extraction transportation refinement and distribution, end of the oil industry, gross inefficiencies of crude-based transportation, heat-loss associated with internal combustion engines, plummeting costs of renewable energy, put a spear through the oil companies, solar wind and electric vehicles can deliver more than six times the “mobility” returns on each dollar invested than oil, solar wind and EVs will be the death of the petroleum industry
Advanced Nuclear Has Promise, But…
An old school chum posted the graphic below, to which I reply:
There’s an important difference, however: the one on the right actually exists, and the one on the left doesn’t. (more…)
Tagged with: advanced nuclear
A Justice System in Disarray
From the Writer’s Almanac: Today is the birthday of the Dutch dancer and spy Mata Hari, born in the Netherlands (1876)…..The exact nature of her spy activities is not clear, but she probably didn’t engage in much actual espionage. (more…)
Tagged with: Justice System in Disarray
High Voltage Power Transmission
Someone asked me why high voltages are used to transmit power over long distances, so I thought I’d make a post on the explanation.
Power = current time voltage, and voltage = current times resistance. P = IV and V = IR. Substituting IR for V in the first equation we get P = I2R, meaning the power loss is proportional to the square of the current. In fact, these losses are often referred to as “I2R losses.” Thus we need to keep the current to a minimum, which, because P = IV, means high voltages.
Tagged with: high voltage power transmission
Take a Cool Guess—The Fun Quiz on Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Today’s Topic: The Electric Vehicle Adoption Curve
Question: What’s depicted in the map at left?
Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.
Relevance: The EV adoption curve is based on a complex set of variables, but this one’s critical.
Words of Empowerment
Sadly, Toni Morrison didn’t leave us at a good time, but her words (like those featured at left) will echo on forever.
“Rest in peace” sounds vulgar and grossly inappropriate here. May you rest in strength, may you rest in power.
Tagged with: Words of Empowerment
One of Nanotechnology’s Bazillion Potential Benefits
Is it possible to cool an object to a temperature below that of its surroundings? Let’s consider that for a moment. If you take a pie out of your oven at 375°F and put it on the sill of an open window with outside temperature 70°, you’re not going to expect to wind up with a pie at 60°.
Enter nanophotonics. (more…)
Diplomacy and Sustainability
Have you ever noticed the fascination many Americans have with the U.S. Civil War of 1860-65? You don’t see World War I re-enactments. You don’t run across people who self-describe as “War of 1812 buffs.” Among other things, the Civil War propelled Abraham Lincoln into his position as, per consensus of historians, the greatest U.S. president, largely based on his tenacity in keeping the Union together. (more…)
