In 'Powering the Future,' Robert B. Laughlin unveils the intricate relationship between energy systems and societal development, exploring how our current energy practices shape the trajectory of civilization. With groundbreaking insights, he challenges conventional wisdom, inviting readers to rethink our dependence on fossil fuels and the possibilities of renewable energy. Laughlin's blend of scientific rigor and captivating narrative illuminates the urgent need for sustainable solutions in a rapidly evolving world. As he charts the course toward a cleaner, more efficient energy landscape, he raises thought-provoking questions about technology, ethics, and our responsibility to future generations. Will humanity rise to the challenge and harness the potential for a brighter, sustainable future?
By Robert B. Laughlin
Published: 2013
""The pursuit of energy is not merely a search for power; it is the drive to sustain life, to innovate, and to illuminate the shadows of our ignorance.""
In Powering the Future, Nobel laureate Robert B. Laughlin transports us two centuries into the future, when we’ve ceased to use carbon from the ground—either because humans have banned carbon burning or because fuel has simply run out. Boldly, Laughlin predicts no earth-shattering transformations will have taken place. Six generations from now, there will still be soccer moms, shopping malls, and business trips. Firesides will still be snug and warm. How will we do it? Not by discovering a magic bullet to slay our energy problems, but through a slew of fascinating technologies, drawing on wind, water, and fire. Powering the Future is an objective yet optimistic tour through alternative fuel sources, set in a world where we’ve burned every last drop of petroleum and every last shovelful of coal. The Predictable: Fossil fuels will run out. The present flow of crude oil out of the ground equals in one day the average flow of the Mississippi River past New Orleans in thirteen minutes. If you add the energy equivalents of gas and coal, it’s thirty-six minutes. At the present rate of consumption, we’ll be out of fossil fuels in two centuries’ time. We always choose the cheapest gas. From the nineteenth-century consolidation of the oil business to the California energy crisis of 2000-2001, the energy business has shown, time and again, how low prices dominate market share. Market forces—not green technology—will be the driver of energy innovation in the next 200 years. The laws of physics remain fixed. Energy will still be conserved, degrade entropically with use, and have to be disposed of as waste heat into outer space. How much energy a fuel can pack away in a given space is fixed by quantum mechanics—and if we want to keep flying jet planes, we will need carbon-based fuels. The Potential: Animal waste.If dried and burned, the world’s agricultural manure would supply about one-third as much energy as all the coal we presently consume. Trash. The United States disposes of 88 million tons of carbon in its trash per year. While the incineration of waste trash is not enough to contribute meaningfully to the global demand for energy, it will constrain fuel prices by providing a cheap supply of carbon. Solar energy.The power used to light all the cities around the world is only one-millionth of the total power of sunlight pouring down on earth’s daytime side. And the amount of hydropump storage required to store the world’s daily electrical surge is equal to only eight times the volume of Lake Mead. PRAISE FOR ROBERT B. LAUGHLIN “Perhaps the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Richard Feynman”—George Chapline, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory “Powerful but controversial.”— Financial Times “[Laughlin’s] company … is inspirational.” —New Scientist
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“"The pursuit of energy is not merely a search for power; it is the drive to sustain life, to innovate, and to illuminate the shadows of our ignorance."”
Powering the Future
By Robert B. Laughlin
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Robert B. Laughlin is an acclaimed physicist and author best known for his contributions to the field of condensed matter physics and for being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998. His notable works include 'A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down,' where he explores the fundamental nature of reality and challenges conventional scientific wisdom. Laughlin's writing style is characterized by clarity and accessibility, making complex scientific concepts understandable to a broader audience while maintaining a deep intellectual rigor.
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