4 ms·
A percentage is also lost in a way that is not and will never be economically feasible to recover, ie oxidized and dissolved in the sea. Although this research
by mateo1 4y ago
A percentage is also lost in a way that is not and will never be economically feasible to recover, ie oxidized and dissolved in the sea.
Although this research is probably done in good faith, it's going to (renewably) fuel all the alarmist environmentalists that don't understand the first thing about mining and resources. We cannot live in a closed system, nothing can, and we will perish if we go around stopping all industrial progress in the name of an unachievable circular economy ideal. Some resources are scarce and limited as far as we know and with current extraction costa, but the solution is not to stop using them. We use them for a reason. Imagine if the industrial revolution never happened because they were concerned that in 200 years the sea level would rise 3 meters and damage their crops. In a way, this is where we are.
There is a lot of earth crust and a lot of minerals around. Luckily, by the time we run out we'll have already colonized most of the solar system.
- Thorentis 4y ago> Luckily, by the time we run out we'll have already colonized most of the solar system. I tend to agree with the first part, but am reluctant to fully agree due to this last part. If it was true that we have enough to last us up until we colonize the solar system, then maybe the first part would be fine. This assumes that colonising the solar system is even possible, and that we have enough energy available on earth to even do this.
- bruce511 4y agoI'm doubtful about colonising - and even if we create colonies it's likely they will remain small and dependant on earth for at least some supplies. However there is a Lot of rock in the solar system that could be mined, and its possible, perhaps even probable, that these resources would supply earth with metals for quite some time.
- shkkmo 4y agoI have no doubt that supply chains will remain interlinked, but if our civilization begins to actively exploit a significant portion of the resources in the solar system, then large-scale colonization is necessary and inevitable (although not necessarily human.)
- eru 4y ago> This assumes that colonising the solar system is even possible, and that we have enough energy available on earth to even do this. The sun will provide plenty of energy for quite a while to come.