Only yesterday I wrote about future means of manufacturing fuels, turns out "the independant", a brittish newspaper ran a similar story that same day. I swear I didn't steal anything!
In all seriousness, they also speak of synthetic hydrocarbons, but made from carbonmonoxide rather than ethylene. It is an option I had not considered, but it seems plausible. I'm looking frward to reading more into the matter.
They also dig a bit deeper into the issue of algae oil, as you can read in their article.
This too, I'll be reading into.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
"DNA splice" children.
(excerpt from "count Zero")
"But you have people? You got a man to go back to?"
"A woman, you want to know," she said. "Know anything about breeding dogs?"
"No," he said
"I didn't think so." She squinted at him. "We got a kid,
too. Ours. She carried it."
"DNA splice?"
She nodded.
When william Gibsom wrote this back in 1986, it was science fiction, now it may very well become reality.
Scientists have succesfully created a sperm from a human female embryo. They hope that they'll be able to create sperm from female bone marrow in the future, effectively allowing lesbians to have a child of their own genetic make-up.
Cyberpunk is happening today.
"But you have people? You got a man to go back to?"
"A woman, you want to know," she said. "Know anything about breeding dogs?"
"No," he said
"I didn't think so." She squinted at him. "We got a kid,
too. Ours. She carried it."
"DNA splice?"
She nodded.
When william Gibsom wrote this back in 1986, it was science fiction, now it may very well become reality.
Scientists have succesfully created a sperm from a human female embryo. They hope that they'll be able to create sperm from female bone marrow in the future, effectively allowing lesbians to have a child of their own genetic make-up.
Cyberpunk is happening today.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Biotechnological carbon fixation.
Carbon fixation is accomplished almost entirely through fotosynthesis right now. We rely on plants to turn carbon dioxide into carbon hydrates such as suger and starch. The advent of synthetic fuels will require a large supply of these, but already enviromentalist groups and human rights activists are crying about the huge amount of staple foods required to provide with the wee amount of bio ethanol we're currently using. If we ever hope to synthesise kerosene and plastic from ethanol, we'll need a better way of producing these staples.
I don't think it's impossible to do this biotechnologically. We've managed to get bacteria to synthesise insulin, why not sugar? Set up a huge broth filled tank that houses these bacteria, and pump carbon dioxide through the tank. They'd need a supply of light as well, but that could be engeneered easely enough. Maybe large shallow tanks with lights strung over them, stacked on top of eachother. We've been using other microorganisms (yeasts) to turn sugars into alcohol for thousands of years, and we've got the chemical knowledge to use this alcohol to synthesise fuels.
This technology could also help us deal with world hunger, and it would allow small communities to generate a lot of food/energy themselves. It would also turn the agricultural world upside down. Imagine the price of starch plummeting, while fuel for harvestors and combines becomes prohibitively expensive. High density food production will also benefit areas with high population densities if transporting food became more expensive than producing it.
As for something that's happening now: algae oil.
Not exactly micro-organisms, but they get the job done, and the oil they produce is supposed to be great for making biodiesel.
If you've got kids: get them an education in biotechnology or process engeneering, for they will be the farmers of the future.
I don't think it's impossible to do this biotechnologically. We've managed to get bacteria to synthesise insulin, why not sugar? Set up a huge broth filled tank that houses these bacteria, and pump carbon dioxide through the tank. They'd need a supply of light as well, but that could be engeneered easely enough. Maybe large shallow tanks with lights strung over them, stacked on top of eachother. We've been using other microorganisms (yeasts) to turn sugars into alcohol for thousands of years, and we've got the chemical knowledge to use this alcohol to synthesise fuels.
This technology could also help us deal with world hunger, and it would allow small communities to generate a lot of food/energy themselves. It would also turn the agricultural world upside down. Imagine the price of starch plummeting, while fuel for harvestors and combines becomes prohibitively expensive. High density food production will also benefit areas with high population densities if transporting food became more expensive than producing it.
As for something that's happening now: algae oil.
Not exactly micro-organisms, but they get the job done, and the oil they produce is supposed to be great for making biodiesel.
If you've got kids: get them an education in biotechnology or process engeneering, for they will be the farmers of the future.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
What is the incorporated government?
Whenever I speak of the future and the incorporated government, people get confused. Do I believe that a huge corporation will seize control of public affairs? Do I believe in sovereign enclaves under corporate control?
Various models and posibilities have been explored in a myriad of *fictionous* books. Today I will explain what I believe will happen.
The first democracies.
Originally, the demographic that was allowed to vote was severely limited. In Greece, only free men were allowed to, and only free richmen could do so for all practical purposes. Later in Rome, issues arose with slaves who had been freed by their masters, or who accumulated enough wealth to buy themselves free. Should they be given the sane civil rights as the common citizens? What of the educated slaves who were used to copy books and teach children? The criteria for allowing people to vote have often been subject of discussion and strife.
Women have the right to vote today, but that wasn't always so. Their struggle to attain that right was long and harsh, and a very recent devellopment if you take into consideration how long democracy has existed.
Present day.
Today, citizenship goes hand in hand with the right to vote accross the world. In the US there could be issues with permanent residents, or the residents in DC. Felons don't get to vote either but generally speaking, there is a widespread right to vote amongst US citizens. Simillar situations exist around the world.
"Everybody" gets to vote, and everybodies vot carries the same weight.
Corporate democracy
There exists also a form of democracy withing corporations and large companies: stockholder meetings. Everybody who invested in the company, and some who work for it, get to have their say in determining policy. Everybody who has bought shares or stock gets to cast their vote, and the weight that your vote carries is determined by the investement that you've made. That's the essential difference between corporate and political democracy.
What about the "government" part?
It seems such a foreign concept to be ruled by a company, but is it really? What has the government ever done for you? Housing? Education? Your government taxes you, taking your money, and gives you something in return. A police force to keep you safe, firemen to protect your house from fires. An army to protect the borders, healthcare ...
What is essential here is that you should recognise that these are all services that can be provided by private institutions. The only possible exception would be the "army" thing, and even then, we've recently seen the rise of large companies of mercenaries who fight alongside enlisted men in foreign theathres.
Large companies often provide their employees with vehicles, or encourage/sponsor carpooling,
corporate housing exists in many countries, healthcare, pension plans, security. Large companies have their oen fire and rescue squads, especially in the cheical industry, but also in harbors and on airports. These are all services that the government also provides, the corporation is complementing the government in some of its most essential tasks. Sometimes replacing it alltoghether (healthcare for example).
All of this comes out of the paychecks of those on the corps payroll, hardly any difference than taxation. And by "out of the paychecks" I mean: skimmed off the profits that would otherwise end up in shareholder profit or an increase in pay.
Can we really call this a form of government?
Easy question! A German car parts company is willing to set up a factory in the US; who's got more influence on that decision: the chambre of commerce or General Motors inc who will be using the parts? Who's got more influence on Government policy: grassroots political activists, or large corporations who will be bankrolling the re-election campaigns? What's a bigger incentive to maintain peacefull relationships with China? The US' desire for global peace, or the vast amounts of commerce in between continents by international companies?
No, this doesn't constitute a government, but it should be clear that companies already have a much bigger say in the lives of its employees than the government can ever hope to attain without being accused of fascism and being a totalitarian dictatorship. And more and more people are becoming directly or indirectly subjected to corporate actions.
Democratic governments are here to stay, and they will take every action they can to increase their power, but who you work for is going to be a biggie in the future, maybe some concrete examples on that tomorrow.
Various models and posibilities have been explored in a myriad of *fictionous* books. Today I will explain what I believe will happen.
The first democracies.
Originally, the demographic that was allowed to vote was severely limited. In Greece, only free men were allowed to, and only free richmen could do so for all practical purposes. Later in Rome, issues arose with slaves who had been freed by their masters, or who accumulated enough wealth to buy themselves free. Should they be given the sane civil rights as the common citizens? What of the educated slaves who were used to copy books and teach children? The criteria for allowing people to vote have often been subject of discussion and strife.
Women have the right to vote today, but that wasn't always so. Their struggle to attain that right was long and harsh, and a very recent devellopment if you take into consideration how long democracy has existed.
Present day.
Today, citizenship goes hand in hand with the right to vote accross the world. In the US there could be issues with permanent residents, or the residents in DC. Felons don't get to vote either but generally speaking, there is a widespread right to vote amongst US citizens. Simillar situations exist around the world.
"Everybody" gets to vote, and everybodies vot carries the same weight.
Corporate democracy
There exists also a form of democracy withing corporations and large companies: stockholder meetings. Everybody who invested in the company, and some who work for it, get to have their say in determining policy. Everybody who has bought shares or stock gets to cast their vote, and the weight that your vote carries is determined by the investement that you've made. That's the essential difference between corporate and political democracy.
What about the "government" part?
It seems such a foreign concept to be ruled by a company, but is it really? What has the government ever done for you? Housing? Education? Your government taxes you, taking your money, and gives you something in return. A police force to keep you safe, firemen to protect your house from fires. An army to protect the borders, healthcare ...
What is essential here is that you should recognise that these are all services that can be provided by private institutions. The only possible exception would be the "army" thing, and even then, we've recently seen the rise of large companies of mercenaries who fight alongside enlisted men in foreign theathres.
Large companies often provide their employees with vehicles, or encourage/sponsor carpooling,
corporate housing exists in many countries, healthcare, pension plans, security. Large companies have their oen fire and rescue squads, especially in the cheical industry, but also in harbors and on airports. These are all services that the government also provides, the corporation is complementing the government in some of its most essential tasks. Sometimes replacing it alltoghether (healthcare for example).
All of this comes out of the paychecks of those on the corps payroll, hardly any difference than taxation. And by "out of the paychecks" I mean: skimmed off the profits that would otherwise end up in shareholder profit or an increase in pay.
Can we really call this a form of government?
Easy question! A German car parts company is willing to set up a factory in the US; who's got more influence on that decision: the chambre of commerce or General Motors inc who will be using the parts? Who's got more influence on Government policy: grassroots political activists, or large corporations who will be bankrolling the re-election campaigns? What's a bigger incentive to maintain peacefull relationships with China? The US' desire for global peace, or the vast amounts of commerce in between continents by international companies?
No, this doesn't constitute a government, but it should be clear that companies already have a much bigger say in the lives of its employees than the government can ever hope to attain without being accused of fascism and being a totalitarian dictatorship. And more and more people are becoming directly or indirectly subjected to corporate actions.
Democratic governments are here to stay, and they will take every action they can to increase their power, but who you work for is going to be a biggie in the future, maybe some concrete examples on that tomorrow.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
A future for gasoline?
There's been a horrible amount of discussion concerning the price and availability of petroleum products.
Before anything we must realize: There is not enough crude oil available to sustain our need for petroleum products.
Simple fact, the amount available is limited, our needs over extended periods of time are not. Oil will run out, or at least become rare and expensive.
This will not happen soon, we will likely manage to come by easy to process oil for several decades. We may have multiple centuries worth of oil sand at our disposal, but it will eventually become too much of a hassle to process, it will become too expensive.
A lot of industries require petroleum products. The petrochemical industry caters to fuel suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, companies who produce paint, adhesives, plastics and artificial rubber. Where do you think your PVC tubing comes from?
Clearly, if oil were to disappear overnight, we'd be properly f*cked. Fortunately we know in advance what could happen, and where we will be hit. How do we cope with this?
Some things can be accomplished just fine without oil. Electricity can be gotten from solar panels or nuclear energy, hydropower and so on. Most people are concerned predominantly with their car. If our society evolves to one focused on huge cities with extreme population densities, then electrical cars become a very viable means of transport. Since you never have to travel outside of city limits, and you can recharge you vehicle almost anywhere (public outleds which charge money per KW/h you charge)
Aside from that, diesel can be prepared just fine from fatty acids. As long as we can farm olive oil and pigs are fat, we can make diesel in ridiculously simple factories, providing fuel for trucks and ships commuting in between cities, factories etc. ... I actually did this a month ago, I made some biodiesel from used frying oil, woked out quite well.
Alcohol is a somewhat viable alternative as well, also provided that you stay in a densely populated area, due to the large volume of alcohol required to run a car and the frequent re-fill of your gas tank it entails.
A bit more difficult would be to provide the petrochemical industry with an alternative. You can't make plastic out of just anything. True, but the most fundamental products: ethylene and ethylene oxide can be prepared just fine out of ethylalcohol, the drinking kind. Hardly as convenient as running a batch of crude oil through a steam cracker, but a viable way none the less.
You cant just make polyethylene (the plastic used for lemonade bottles, jerry cans etc ...) out of ethylene. And as long as the aforementioned steam cracker stays fed, fuel won't be a problem either.
There will not be a shortage of hydrocarbons (constituents of crude oil) unless there is a severe shortage of alcohol (or another feed source) from which to make it.
It will however be a lot more expensive than it is today. Let's face it: this planets oil reserves were godsent, and we've accomplished so much because of them, but now we've got to start working on plan B.
Before anything we must realize: There is not enough crude oil available to sustain our need for petroleum products.
Simple fact, the amount available is limited, our needs over extended periods of time are not. Oil will run out, or at least become rare and expensive.
This will not happen soon, we will likely manage to come by easy to process oil for several decades. We may have multiple centuries worth of oil sand at our disposal, but it will eventually become too much of a hassle to process, it will become too expensive.
A lot of industries require petroleum products. The petrochemical industry caters to fuel suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, companies who produce paint, adhesives, plastics and artificial rubber. Where do you think your PVC tubing comes from?
Clearly, if oil were to disappear overnight, we'd be properly f*cked. Fortunately we know in advance what could happen, and where we will be hit. How do we cope with this?
Some things can be accomplished just fine without oil. Electricity can be gotten from solar panels or nuclear energy, hydropower and so on. Most people are concerned predominantly with their car. If our society evolves to one focused on huge cities with extreme population densities, then electrical cars become a very viable means of transport. Since you never have to travel outside of city limits, and you can recharge you vehicle almost anywhere (public outleds which charge money per KW/h you charge)
Aside from that, diesel can be prepared just fine from fatty acids. As long as we can farm olive oil and pigs are fat, we can make diesel in ridiculously simple factories, providing fuel for trucks and ships commuting in between cities, factories etc. ... I actually did this a month ago, I made some biodiesel from used frying oil, woked out quite well.
Alcohol is a somewhat viable alternative as well, also provided that you stay in a densely populated area, due to the large volume of alcohol required to run a car and the frequent re-fill of your gas tank it entails.
A bit more difficult would be to provide the petrochemical industry with an alternative. You can't make plastic out of just anything. True, but the most fundamental products: ethylene and ethylene oxide can be prepared just fine out of ethylalcohol, the drinking kind. Hardly as convenient as running a batch of crude oil through a steam cracker, but a viable way none the less.
You cant just make polyethylene (the plastic used for lemonade bottles, jerry cans etc ...) out of ethylene. And as long as the aforementioned steam cracker stays fed, fuel won't be a problem either.
There will not be a shortage of hydrocarbons (constituents of crude oil) unless there is a severe shortage of alcohol (or another feed source) from which to make it.
It will however be a lot more expensive than it is today. Let's face it: this planets oil reserves were godsent, and we've accomplished so much because of them, but now we've got to start working on plan B.
First post
This is my second blog, after the gun debate critic.
Over time I've become interested in the evolution of politics and our society as a whole, this is where I intend to jot down my ramblings concerning the "advent of the diamond age", the dawn of an incorporated democracy, the collapse of western society when TS hits TF, TEOTWAK and assorted survivalist acronyms.
In all seriousness, I'll be tracking scientific, technologic and political events that contribute to my idea of an incorporated government, and matter-neutral living enviroments.
Over time I've become interested in the evolution of politics and our society as a whole, this is where I intend to jot down my ramblings concerning the "advent of the diamond age", the dawn of an incorporated democracy, the collapse of western society when TS hits TF, TEOTWAK and assorted survivalist acronyms.
In all seriousness, I'll be tracking scientific, technologic and political events that contribute to my idea of an incorporated government, and matter-neutral living enviroments.
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