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The current situation? We’ve previously had the threat of nuclear war situation and 2 world wars in the last 100 years. With a single scientific advance that w
by brightball 7y ago
The current situation? We’ve previously had the threat of nuclear war situation and 2 world wars in the last 100 years.
With a single scientific advance that would allow rapid carbon capture from the atmosphere, we could be having a totally different conversation.
- ForHackernews 7y ago> With a single scientific advance that would allow rapid carbon capture from the atmosphere ... and reverse the laws of thermodynamics, too! Recapturing atmospheric CO2 means working to transform from a high-entropy state to a lower-entropy state. That's not going to happen for free. So you need to have: 1) A fast efficient carbon-capture mechanism. 2) A way to generate lots and lots of power that doesn't itself produce CO2. You're not describing a "single scientific advance" as much as you're describing dozens or hundreds of major feats of engineering. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I would not bet the planet on it.
- brightball 7y agoNuclear already accomplishes the power requirements though. As far as I can tell it’s more about having a working option and then paying for it. But even if we aren’t betting the planet on it...this is akin to a poker game where all of your money is already in the middle. Folding the hand just means you lose. There is literally nothing to gain by giving up. Nothing.