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"They aren't making more fossil fuels." -- Well, they are, just rather slowly. All the fossil fuels we use now have been created since the Cambrian and most hav
by lkrubner 12y ago
"They aren't making more fossil fuels." -- Well, they are, just rather slowly. All the fossil fuels we use now have been created since the Cambrian and most have been created since the start of the Mesozoic. And if we are willing to wait another 300 million years, we can have yet another 2 centuries of vigorous economic growth based on fossil fuel consumption. In fact, we can probably have 200 good years, every 300 million years, for as long as the Earth lasts.
- bdamm 12y ago2 centuries? I think you may not be including the availability of coal, from which oil can be produced.
- hughw 12y agoThomas Gold thought it would last a good bit longer. He hypothesized Earth's methane is primordial, dating to the origin of the planet (as with other planets in the solar system). There would be a virtually limitless supply. http://metaresearch.org/publications/bulletin/2007issues/0915/Mrb07cp5.asp http://metaresearch.org/publications/bulletin/2007issues/091...
- Gravityloss 12y agoThat's disputed. Carbon storage might have stopped quickly wheen wood devouring fungi evolved. http://news.clarku.edu/news/2012/06/28/findings-point-to-fungi-as-prime-suspects-in-fossil-fuel-mystery/ http://news.clarku.edu/news/2012/06/28/findings-point-to-fun...
- ars 12y agoThere are hydrocarbons (methane especially) on other planets. Oil is old algae, but methane might not be - there is a lot of energy in the Earth's core than can make it.