Why go for hydrogen when nuclear will do?
In your look at Japan’s promotion of a hydrogen economy to coincide with the Olympics, you mention the Suiso Frontier bulk carrier vessel, which will ship liquid hydrogen from Australia to Japan (29 May, p 18). It will carry 1250 cubic metres of the stuff, although some will boil off en route.
To illustrate the downsides, if a heavier element was chosen as a power source instead of the lightest, the same amount of energy could be transported in 10 kilograms of uranium pellets, which would fit easily in a handbag. Australia has the world’s largest reserves of uranium, and Japan has around replaced by .
On the role of capitalism in the climate emergency (1)
I was with you all the way in your leader on the need for change to tackle the climate emergency, and I also agreed with a lot of what Graham Lawton said in his article (p 40) about trying to make sure our pensions are invested in an ethical way that helps, rather than hinders, the drive to zero carbon Leader, 5 June.
But to suggest that “capitalism created climate change” is a step too far 鈥� people are responsible, not the economic or political system under which they exist. Attributing climate change to any particular “-ism” is a mistake and 鈥� partly, at least 鈥� absolves the individual from action.
On the role of capitalism in the climate emergency (2)
Your leader concludes that “capitalism created climate change”. Sure, but only if you classify China and the former Soviet Union as capitalist economies.
and has plans for even more. As for the Soviet Union, take this analysis from at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark following its collapse: “The transition from a planned economy to a market economy had enormous consequences for food production and . It led to a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 鈥� the equivalent of up to 80% of the world’s total CO2 emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use in 2010.”
Capitalism certainly isn’t blameless here. As you suggest, with legal backing, it can fix the problem 鈥� let’s hope so.
On the role of capitalism in the climate emergency (3)
Quite apart from the evidence suggesting we need a massive economic shift away from carbon emissions right now to have any chance of stopping runaway global warming, capitalism isn’t about meeting people’s needs, let alone environmental ones.
Economic growth is a tenet of capitalism and contradictory to the constraints of living on Earth. The statement that capitalism (including the state capitalist countries that claim to be socialist or communist) will do anything to significantly curb climate change in the timescale needed is wrong.
Let's invest in storage for the drive to zero carbon
The UK government seems wedded to colossally expensive power generation projects to supply baseload electrical energy: first nuclear, now bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (5 June, p 13).
But it is energy storage, not baseload, that we need in the transition to renewable power. I wonder how feasible it would be to convert gas-fired power stations to burn hydrogen produced from wind or solar power, storing the hydrogen until needed?
Other ways to stay safe in the quantum era
The quantum internet may not solve all our security problems (29 May, p 36). While any technology that reduces the ability of states and criminals to conduct surveillance and sabotage is to be welcomed, quantum communications are unlikely to be enough without a lot more technical work.
Another possibility is post-quantum cryptography. This still uses mathematics rather than photons, much like current cryptography, but aims to be resilient to the likes of encryption-busting methods in the quantum computer era, such as Shor’s algorithm.
This has the advantage that it can easily work for stored data and over wireless radio links, neither of which have yet been proposed for quantum cryptography, which relies on real-time optical-fibre connections or precisely aimed laser link connections.
How to do your bit to save the insects
You report the sorry state of insect biodiversity (5 June, p 23). We could all do our bit to preserve insects by making sure that, before disposing of cuttings and prunings in our gardens, we shake the foliage over the soil to release as many minibeasts as possible. It is surprising how many tiny animals can be seen to drop out.
This is why ancient black holes could be minnows
Michael Overholt wonders why a small primordial black hole wouldn’t grow into a giant during the time when the universe was young (Letters, 5 June). At that point, the universe consisted of gas or plasma that was fairly uniform. Although the black hole could attract gas near it, gas further away would have been moving fast enough to escape.
Get a measure of drink's role in civilisation today
Vijaysree Venkatraman’s review of Edward Slingerland’s book Drunk: How we sipped, danced, and stumbled our way to civilization got me wondering whether an analysis of recording devices placed in the bars of Magaluf in midsummer might prove useful for the future of humanity (5 June, p 30).
Even slackers can get motivated
The author of your piece on motivation has succumbed to hyperactivist propaganda and so gets the analysis (can’t-be-)arse(d)-about-face (29 May, p 41).
As an unashamed slacker, there is nothing I like doing more than nothing. I am motivated and conscientious in my efforts to minimise the time wasted doing stuff. Writing to you on this important subject just makes the cut.