4 ms·

The only hard limits for human-style organisms on an earth-type planet are thermodynamic. Using 1970s technology, the earth could support hundreds of billions.

The only hard limits for human-style organisms on an earth-type planet are thermodynamic. Using 1970s technology, the earth could support hundreds of billions. e.g.: http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/2006/09/overpopulation-no-problem/ http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/2006/09/overp... When you look at the simple figures that show that to be true, it somewhat puts the ridiculous debates over billions into context. i.e. they're not really debates over capacity and resources, they're debates over organization and (lack of) understanding the nature of progress and achievement.

icegreentea 15y ago
The linked article misses or glosses over a crucial part of sustaining the population. As the New Yorker article touches on, the real rate limiting factor in growing food is not sunlight, or even water, but really phosphorous, nitrogen, and other fertilizers nutrients. The only way to have a long term sustainable food system is to have one where the majority of these nutrients are redirected from human waste back into growing food.
- billswift 15y ago
  That is merely a matter of attitude. Right now post-processed sewerage isn't used for food production in most First World countries, but it could be. It is often used on golf courses, and there have been experiments in bagging it and selling it to landscape gardeners as a replacement for bagged cow manure. In the DC area, there was Com-Pro in the 1990s, for example, though I heard it was taken off the market for lack of sales even though it was less than half the price of bagged cow manure. If there was serious need for fertilizer, it could easily be satisfied.