Robert B. Laughlin

The author, a professor of physics at Stanford, discusses various possible ways of obtaining and storing energy in the future. I remain skeptical about many of his forecasts, but one insight that I suspect is true is his assertion that we as a species will always opt for whatever source of energy is cheapest. For the foreseeable future, he claims this will be fossil fuels - oil, coal, and natural gas. Once these are exhausted (a couple hundred years hence), we'll probably opt for nuclear, with some supplementation from solar in places in which it makes economic sense. I think, actually I hope he's underestimating potential innovations in various areas, including bio-tech and nano-tech, and even cultural changes, that will make other sources of energy economical.… (más)