In virtually all arenas of technology in which there are (or were at one time) many different competitors, we inevitably reach the point that “the winners win and the losers lose.”
In renewable energy, we recently said goodbye (except for niche applications) to concepts like hydrokinetics, geothermal, and biomass. In automotive, one could say that biofuels took its last breath when Chevron gave up about a decade ago after 30 years of effort, and, per this post, hydrogen expired today.
While I grant that this is a controversial matter, I think that winnowing out the competition and leaving us with the strongest players–to strengthen even further–is a good thing.
In renewable energy, we have solar and wind; in automobile drive trains, we have electricity. Concentrating on what we do best is, I would argue, the most effective way to decarbonize the energy and transportation sectors—an absolute must if this civilization is to deal effectively with environmental collapse.
There Is No Way to Prevent the Winners from Winning–and That’s a Good Thing
At left is a good example of what I mean by: “The last 150 years hasn’t been good for philosophers.”
In the late 19th Century, a question like this was the purview of philosophy. Now it’s the domain for neuroscientists.
Similarly, the question: “what are the ultimate building blocks of the universe” was fodder for everyone from the ancient Greek philosophers up to the far more recent metaphysicians. Now we ask particle physicists.
This is funny, but in actuality, sane people don’t physically attack the MAGA crowd; in fact, we don’t even make snide comments.
We keep our thoughts to ourselves. We may feel sorry for these people’s moral depravity and/or stupidity. We may be angry that the country that was once the envy of the world is now viewed with ridicule and disdain in its path to become irrelevant in global affairs.
But messing with hateful morons in red hats isn’t helping anyone.
Here’s the latest on Trump’s efforts to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, while waging an aggressive war in Iran, executing people he suspects of carrying drug off the coast of Venezuela, pledging to take over Cuba, and annexing Greenland from a (former) ally.
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