One of the most frustrating and comical aspects of humanity's reluctance to ditch fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil for renewable energy sources is that it reveals just how small our horizons as a species are. Whether you consider expansionist wars like in Ukraine, brutal oppression as in Gaza, or the nihilist frog-in-a-well politics of Donald Trump's US, it would seem that human beings are incapable of looking at the bigger picture. Do we want to mature as a planetary civilization and look to the stars while preserving the well-being of the people and ecosystems on Earth? Or do we fight and die in the same old ways, while just looking more 'modern' with our suits and supercomputers?
I recently came across a very interesting discussion about an obscure but highly influential study published way back in 1964 by Russian physicist Nikolai Kardashev, in a YouTube video from the Public Broadcasting Service's (PBS) Space Time channel. The paper, titled Transmission Of Information By Extraterrestrial Civilizations, had a simple and elegant answer for why humanity hasn't yet discovered alien life. Kardashev was looking to understand the amount of energy required to boost a signal through space. He surmised that if we were to try and communicate with intelligent life out in the cosmos or vice versa, communication signals would have to be propelled by an immense amount of energy. Human civilization, both back in 1964 and in 2024, simply does not control that level of energy.
Denne historien er fra November 27, 2024-utgaven av Mint Mumbai.
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Denne historien er fra November 27, 2024-utgaven av Mint Mumbai.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Heavy selling by FPIs likely due to India's good returns
Govt to continue to rationalize duties as part of its efforts to build an investor-friendly nation
Energy transition to be delayed amid Trump's oil push
Energy transition, or the shift away from fossil fuels to renewable sources, remains crucial to combating climate change, but the progress could slow as US president Donald Trump pushes for boosting domestic oil and gas production, Jérôme Sevin, partner and global lead for energy and process industry at consulting firm Kearney, said.
Merchandise trade deficit widens in Jan
India's foreign trade has been hit by weak demand in major markets, geopolitical tensions, volatile commodity prices
Indian markets have detected a chill in India's American ties
Trump seems to have ended the 'Howdy Modi' era's camaraderie
New exercises to switch things up on bicep day
Cut the monotony out with biceps push-ups, lat pull-down curls and more
India's Gold Imports Rise 40.79% to $2.68 Billion in January
The country's gold imports in January rose by 40.79% to $2.68 billion on account of increasing domestic demands, according to commerce ministry data.
India Lifts Hindalco's Q3 Show
Hindalco Industries Ltd managed to sail through in the December quarter (Q3FY25).
Japan's KYB Corp exits its 51% stake in JV with Conmat
India's concrete equipment market is expected to grow to ₹230 billion from ₹88 billion, in four years
Take a new trade approach in response to Trump 2.0
Lowering tariffs will help India sign FTAs with others. Broadly, we should focus more on trade in services
Sotheby's Taps Into Indian Art Market Boom With Sales of ₹304 Cr in 2024
Risk-taking younger collectors, both from India and abroad, drive demand, representatives of the gallery said
