Every great step forward has been weaponized, including nuclear energy, which by the way generates toxic waste we have no mechanism of dealing with. All of our stunning technological developments have been the victims of greed and profit dealing, rather than done for the "good of humanity". If we did develop a free and safe energy source, like fusion, it would simply be used to exploit resources that are too costly to source at the moment. The problem is human nature. Like other species, we want to be comfortable by creating a Heaven on Earth. Yet we also want the freedom to multiply exponentially in a finite earthy realm. It's not happening. We are working ourselves out onto a limb which will eventually break.
A good , optimistic , buoyant and enjoyable read !
Most people I know are what I term pessimistic-optimists ! ...The "glass half-full" attitude!
They say [ and to some extent do ] pessimistic things while HOPING for a good outcome !
Their rationale : Well..........if it doesn't work out.............you won't be disappointed !
There is a recent publication "Superabundance" which really hammers home the point that "plenty of everything is better than a lack of everything" , including the idea that LOTS of human beings will also mean LOTS of geniuses.........and , historically speaking , there is always a great need of them !
,
Jerry is both RIGHT and WRONG in his view :" Every great step forward has been weaponized, including nuclear energy, which by the way generates toxic waste we have no mechanism of dealing with.".....Yes , if ANYTHING can be 'weaponised' it probably will be , I agree...However ,
the 'toxic-waste' is already being 'reprocessed through Fast-neutron reactors which are designed to recycle nuclear fuel, specifically by recycling uranium and plutonium from used nuclear fuel cycles " and / or being SAFELY entombed in storage facilities in deep , geologically stable repositories . Most 'waste' is very low intensity if somewhat bulky and easily dealt with.[ Clothes , gloves , etc ].
e.g. The processing of 'so-called-rare-earths' : rare earth element (REE) processing often produces radioactive byproducts, primarily thorium and uranium [ both of which can be used in reactors ! ].
Penicillin [ Thanks to Howard Florey and 'team' !! ] was a serendipitous discovery.......like very many others.....and transformed medicine into 'modern medicine' ! But it was like the professional golfer
Gary Player who was informed by the crowd that "That was a lucky shot ! " and responded with "It's funny , but I find that the more I practice the luckier I get ! " Chance is a fine thing , but we NEED experts in all fields , and that's where "Superabundance" makes it abundantly clear !
And , yes , caution is required too.........but that should be incorporated into each and every aspect of a vigorous and wide ranging exploration and search for further knowledge and innovation.
Unfortunately , the "bureaucrats" and "administration" too often get to "rule the roost" and then everything "bogs down" and costs [ their wages !!! ] accelerate far faster than the projects !
Too bad that they then ...."have to lay off research staff " ......or limit the duration or extent of the research because of "cost over-runs" .
e.g. Cancer Research : How many "units" are there ? Surely THAT ISSUE could bring immediate benefits IF they could combine a lot of them together AND CUT BACK ON THE ADMINISTRATION .
.
Yes...."we" need to prioritise PRACTICAL INNOVATION and remove the impediments !
No one was forcing you to read the article Joe. Calling it boring is hardly the spirit of Substack especially with no history of your own Substack posts.
Every great step forward has been weaponized, including nuclear energy, which by the way generates toxic waste we have no mechanism of dealing with. All of our stunning technological developments have been the victims of greed and profit dealing, rather than done for the "good of humanity". If we did develop a free and safe energy source, like fusion, it would simply be used to exploit resources that are too costly to source at the moment. The problem is human nature. Like other species, we want to be comfortable by creating a Heaven on Earth. Yet we also want the freedom to multiply exponentially in a finite earthy realm. It's not happening. We are working ourselves out onto a limb which will eventually break.
Wow, to me this is so shockingly ill-informed it was painful to read.
Concorde's, flying cars or nuclear problem isn't only safety. It's unsustainability.
You can't engineer away the finite resources problem (energy is only a part of what is needed to make technology work...)...
Dreams of infinite expansion like these highlight the lack of sustainable futures stories and dreams...
Please don't over-simplify this problem, antagonizing the people who care to call for reflection before action.
Hmmmm sounds like a very privileged point of view. The hidden costs to either choice are littered with the lives of people that have no voice.
A good , optimistic , buoyant and enjoyable read !
Most people I know are what I term pessimistic-optimists ! ...The "glass half-full" attitude!
They say [ and to some extent do ] pessimistic things while HOPING for a good outcome !
Their rationale : Well..........if it doesn't work out.............you won't be disappointed !
There is a recent publication "Superabundance" which really hammers home the point that "plenty of everything is better than a lack of everything" , including the idea that LOTS of human beings will also mean LOTS of geniuses.........and , historically speaking , there is always a great need of them !
,
Jerry is both RIGHT and WRONG in his view :" Every great step forward has been weaponized, including nuclear energy, which by the way generates toxic waste we have no mechanism of dealing with.".....Yes , if ANYTHING can be 'weaponised' it probably will be , I agree...However ,
the 'toxic-waste' is already being 'reprocessed through Fast-neutron reactors which are designed to recycle nuclear fuel, specifically by recycling uranium and plutonium from used nuclear fuel cycles " and / or being SAFELY entombed in storage facilities in deep , geologically stable repositories . Most 'waste' is very low intensity if somewhat bulky and easily dealt with.[ Clothes , gloves , etc ].
e.g. The processing of 'so-called-rare-earths' : rare earth element (REE) processing often produces radioactive byproducts, primarily thorium and uranium [ both of which can be used in reactors ! ].
Penicillin [ Thanks to Howard Florey and 'team' !! ] was a serendipitous discovery.......like very many others.....and transformed medicine into 'modern medicine' ! But it was like the professional golfer
Gary Player who was informed by the crowd that "That was a lucky shot ! " and responded with "It's funny , but I find that the more I practice the luckier I get ! " Chance is a fine thing , but we NEED experts in all fields , and that's where "Superabundance" makes it abundantly clear !
And , yes , caution is required too.........but that should be incorporated into each and every aspect of a vigorous and wide ranging exploration and search for further knowledge and innovation.
Unfortunately , the "bureaucrats" and "administration" too often get to "rule the roost" and then everything "bogs down" and costs [ their wages !!! ] accelerate far faster than the projects !
Too bad that they then ...."have to lay off research staff " ......or limit the duration or extent of the research because of "cost over-runs" .
e.g. Cancer Research : How many "units" are there ? Surely THAT ISSUE could bring immediate benefits IF they could combine a lot of them together AND CUT BACK ON THE ADMINISTRATION .
.
Yes...."we" need to prioritise PRACTICAL INNOVATION and remove the impediments !
From the start this article sounds like a desperate car salesman, too boring and contradictory to read.
No one was forcing you to read the article Joe. Calling it boring is hardly the spirit of Substack especially with no history of your own Substack posts.