hembrow , 5 months ago @breadandcircuses Not to mention that the energy released has to actually go somewhere. All use of fossil or nuclear fuel warms the earth directly (an effect in addition to global warming). Tom Murphy pointed out some time ago that we'll boil the oceans in about 400 years if we continue with the same rate of growth as now. https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ Global power demand under sustained 2.3% growth on a logarithmic plot. In 275, 345, and 400 years, we demand all the sunlight hitting land and then the earth as a whole, assuming 20%, 100%, and 100% conversion efficiencies, respectively. In 1350 years, we use as much power as the sun generates. In 2450 years, we use as much as all hundred-billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Vertical notes provide historical perspective on how distant these benchmarks are in the context of civilization.
@breadandcircuses Not to mention that the energy released has to actually go somewhere. All use of fossil or nuclear fuel warms the earth directly (an effect in addition to global warming).
Tom Murphy pointed out some time ago that we'll boil the oceans in about 400 years if we continue with the same rate of growth as now. https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/
Global power demand under sustained 2.3% growth on a logarithmic plot. In 275, 345, and 400 years, we demand all the sunlight hitting land and then the earth as a whole, assuming 20%, 100%, and 100% conversion efficiencies, respectively. In 1350 years, we use as much power as the sun generates. In 2450 years, we use as much as all hundred-billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Vertical notes provide historical perspective on how distant these benchmarks are in the context of civilization.