> If we’re dreaming big, let’s forget the wimpy solar energy constraints and adopt fusion. The abundance of deuterium in ordinary water would allow us to have a seemingly inexhaustible source of energy right here on Earth. We won’t go into a detailed analysis of this path, because we don’t have to. The merciless growth illustrated above means that in 1400 years from now, any source of energy we harness would have to outshine the sun.
Let’s worry about that in 1400 years. _If_ we make it that far. As things stand we may not have to worry about it at all because we wont.
The artificial fusion of deuterium in our solar system (or in our galaxy) is utterly dwarfed by the fusion of ordinary protium (hydrogen-1) because there's so much more of the latter. Of course, the latter is fused in stars, not in reactors. So if we're taking the very long view solar (or stellar) power > artificial fusion. It's possible dropping mass in black holes will eventually beat either.
Some people believe they have inherited the stars, that God is behind all things, and that we’re not going to just grow too fast like a cancer and then kill the planet.
I’m one of those people, so this argument doesn’t work for me. There indeed appears to be a slowing of global population growth and an abundance of headroom to grow further.
You think the only reason not to do so is if the existing inhabitants don't like it and are powerful enough to be a threat? I guess it worked for the British Empire...
This argument is worse than saying the Earth is full of water in the ocean, let's just make it drinkable an no-one needs to suffer from bad water quality.
I fully agree that we should be a society that produces a vast surplus of energy to perform actions or work that need doing.
With an abundance of energy, we can move mountains on this planet. What's holding us back is this silly belief we need to be living in the dark ages and not turning on the heater and staying inside a bunker so we don't freeze to death outside.
Electricity should be incredibly cheap coming out of outlets in our homes. We have the ability but not the political and social will to do this.
