Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by infogulch on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @11:34AM
(#9765337)
You mean, to be more specific, that all power is nuclear fusion power. Actually, yes. When fusion reactors are available they'll cut out the middleman again -- and this middleman will be solar.
But to be fair, the sun will remain the largest fusion reactor humans can access for quite some time so solar may continue to be relevant while we are close to it.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by spenczar5 on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:09PM
(#9765589)
Not quite - tidal power is purely gravitational, and doesn't rely on nuclear forces at all.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by JoshTriplett on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:16PM
(#9765637)
That same argument applies to the (metaphorical) claim that all power is solar, which is what I was poking fun at.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by spenczar5 on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:33PM
(#9765752)
Oh, of course - I'm just playing the game too. Technically correct: the best kind of correct.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by redblacktree on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @11:27AM
(#9765269)
It's also not entirely true. There is energy emitted by the earth as well.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by beambot on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @11:37AM
(#9765357)
Planets composed of matter, whose heavy elements are the results of nuclear processes and subsequent supernovae.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by fleitz on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @12:51PM
(#9765869)
All power is energy, except for matter which needs to be converted into energy.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by palimpsests on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @01:06PM
(#9765984)
Well, no... Power is the rate of energy consumption or production. The units of power are Watts = Joules / second, the unit of energy is Joules.
Re:The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change
by fleitz on Tuesday June 23, 2015 @01:33PM
(#9766233)
I was being facetious :) These generalizations aren't terribly useful. It doesn't matter if all power comes from the sun/wherever if you can't put that thing in your car and drive somewhere, or use it to make your light bulbs work.
If you're going to use that metaphor, then really, all power is nuclear power, since that's how all that solar energy is generated.