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Rx for a Sick Planet
Author: BobR
Date: 02/27/2013 14:03:12
The age old question of "are we alone in the universe?" sparks interesting debates, theories, and discussions. Does life exist on other planets? Is it intelligent? Is it more advanced than us? Have they destroyed their ecosystem like we are in the process of doing and looking for other planets where they can start over?
That latter question is one that has popped up in various science fiction movies, and for good reason. The ecological movement of the 70s resulted in the EPA and big steps towards reducing and cleaning up pollution. Nowadays, the altering of our climate via pollution (greenhouse gasses) has become so politicized that even good science has been demonized and sacrificed upon the altar of political posturing.
While we dither, while Nero fiddles, while we parse semantics, the planet continues to warm. Scientists are now warning that the permafrost will melt if nothing is done. Why is that a bad thing?
Got that? As the permafrost melts, it releases tons of greenhouse gasses, which accelerate the warming, which melts more ice, etc., in a death-spiral of recursive warming. We are on the cusp of this, with the gradual changes creating the predicted climate changes, effecting weather in a dramatic way:
Is this reversible? That is the big question. Plants are the biggest force we have for scrubbing CO2 from the air and replacing it with O2, but of course - reduced rain forests and changing weather patterns are making that harder. So what can we do? There is the obvious changes we can make in our daily lives to reduce energy consumption. It's not enough to reduce consumption, though. We need to push the equation back in the other direction. That means creative ways to increase the CO2 to O2 conversion.
Enter the biochemistry of algae. A French scientist is working on lamps that use phosphorescent algae that create energy by consuming CO2:
Other creative solutions include reducing the footprint, natural resources, and emissions from delivery required for food production. One amazing idea is a near-bioverse proposed in San Diego, where a skyscraper building would be half-farm:
This has "win" written all over it, and fits into a modern model which revives the old-fashioned sense that food is better when it's local. It fits into the resurgence of community gardens and home vegetable plots. It has the advantage of providing that option for high-rise dwellers, something that was virtually impossible before now.
So long as we embrace creative options, we still have a chance to roll back our blatant disregard for our planet's health. In the meantime, we can look at Mars as an alternative - it looks like what earth may be if we don't make some changes...
That latter question is one that has popped up in various science fiction movies, and for good reason. The ecological movement of the 70s resulted in the EPA and big steps towards reducing and cleaning up pollution. Nowadays, the altering of our climate via pollution (greenhouse gasses) has become so politicized that even good science has been demonized and sacrificed upon the altar of political posturing.
While we dither, while Nero fiddles, while we parse semantics, the planet continues to warm. Scientists are now warning that the permafrost will melt if nothing is done. Why is that a bad thing?
Any widespread thaw in Siberia’s permanently frozen ground could have severe consequences for climate change. Permafrost covers about 24% of the land surface of the northern hemisphere, and widespread melting could eventually trigger the release of hundreds of gigatonnes of carbon dioxide and methane, which would have a massive warming effect.
Got that? As the permafrost melts, it releases tons of greenhouse gasses, which accelerate the warming, which melts more ice, etc., in a death-spiral of recursive warming. We are on the cusp of this, with the gradual changes creating the predicted climate changes, effecting weather in a dramatic way:
Extreme weather events have been on the rise in the last few decades, and man-made climate change may be causing them by interfering with global air-flow patterns, according to new research.
The Northern Hemisphere has taken a beating from extreme weather in recent years — the 2003 European heat wave, the 2010 Pakistan flood and the 2011 heat wave in the United States, for example. These events, in a general sense, are the result of the global movement of air.
Giant waves of air in the atmosphere normally even out the climate, by bringing warm air north from the tropics and cold air south from the Arctic. But a new study suggests these colossal waves have gotten stuck in place during extreme weather events.
[..]
Here's how the waves may be getting trapped: The burning of fossil fuels causes more warming in the Arctic than in other latitudes, because the loss of snow and ice means heat gets absorbed by the darker ground, not reflected (as it would by the white snow). This warming lessens the temperature difference between the Arctic and northern latitudes like Europe. Since these differences drive air flow, a smaller difference means less air movement. Also, land areas warm and cool more easily than oceans. The result is an unnatural pattern of air flow that prevents the air waves from circulating over land.
Is this reversible? That is the big question. Plants are the biggest force we have for scrubbing CO2 from the air and replacing it with O2, but of course - reduced rain forests and changing weather patterns are making that harder. So what can we do? There is the obvious changes we can make in our daily lives to reduce energy consumption. It's not enough to reduce consumption, though. We need to push the equation back in the other direction. That means creative ways to increase the CO2 to O2 conversion.
Enter the biochemistry of algae. A French scientist is working on lamps that use phosphorescent algae that create energy by consuming CO2:
For the last 20 years, Calleja has focused his attentions on species of mixotropic algae, versatile little buggers that generate electricity not only from the preferred source of most plant life—sunlight—but also by absorbing CO2: “the lamps are composed of a tube containing microalgae, as well as a battery… during the day, the batteries are charged via photosynthesis of the algae, using both solar power and CO2.
Other creative solutions include reducing the footprint, natural resources, and emissions from delivery required for food production. One amazing idea is a near-bioverse proposed in San Diego, where a skyscraper building would be half-farm:
Half of the tower would contain residential units while the other half would contain growing space. Martella estimated that his farm could produce 500,000 thousand pounds of food every three months. The farm doesn’t require pesticides and could reuse the residents’ excrement as fertilizer, making environmentally friendly.
“The system I would want to use is to reclaim the grey water from the residential,” he explained. “That would actually feed into the building, be pumped to the top, through a series of aerobic reactions and charcoal filters the water would be cleansed, and that would feed the plants.”
This has "win" written all over it, and fits into a modern model which revives the old-fashioned sense that food is better when it's local. It fits into the resurgence of community gardens and home vegetable plots. It has the advantage of providing that option for high-rise dwellers, something that was virtually impossible before now.
So long as we embrace creative options, we still have a chance to roll back our blatant disregard for our planet's health. In the meantime, we can look at Mars as an alternative - it looks like what earth may be if we don't make some changes...
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:00:05
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:00:05
Morning 
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:12:49
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:12:49
one of my wacky thoughts was that paint striping on streets needs to be easier to see during rain or snow or even if there is no street light - I wonder if that algae could be added to street paint to create a "glow" so drivers could see better.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 02/27/2013 14:16:42
Scoopster on 02/27/2013 14:16:42
Mornin' all.. 
Comment by 
Raine on 02/27/2013 14:22:08
Good Morning!
Raine on 02/27/2013 14:22:08
Good Morning!
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 14:25:19
I would say that is a very creative solution! I like it!
Raine on 02/27/2013 14:25:19
Quote by wickedpam:
one of my wacky thoughts was that paint striping on streets needs to be easier to see during rain or snow or even if there is no street light - I wonder if that algae could be added to street paint to create a "glow" so drivers could see better.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:27:52
it would be closer to car exhaust and be out in the sun so there is the way to energize it - only thing I wonder is if it has to be kept wet or in water to keep it alive
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:27:52
Quote by Raine:I would say that is a very creative solution! I like it!Quote by wickedpam:
one of my wacky thoughts was that paint striping on streets needs to be easier to see during rain or snow or even if there is no street light - I wonder if that algae could be added to street paint to create a "glow" so drivers could see better.
it would be closer to car exhaust and be out in the sun so there is the way to energize it - only thing I wonder is if it has to be kept wet or in water to keep it alive
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 14:28:31
:HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL:
Raine on 02/27/2013 14:28:31
:HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL:
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:32:28
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:32:28
Bobber, thanks for that alarming yet hope filled blog.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:35:21
Happy B-Day Will!!!!!
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 14:35:21
Comment by 
BobR on 02/27/2013 14:41:53
oh, wait...
BobR on 02/27/2013 14:41:53
Quote by Raine:
oh, wait...
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 14:45:04
Raine on 02/27/2013 14:45:04
Wow... RW heads are gonna esplode!
In what is clearly a shot across the bow at Republican obstructionism on the sequester, the Federal government today released hundreds of detained immigrants as a "cost saving" measure.
You can bet that if the sequester happens, those hundreds will turn into thousands.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:49:31
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:49:31
Really Katie McDonough? "We Saw Your Boobs" celbrates rape?
You're a day late and dollar short, Ms McDonough.
You're a day late and dollar short, Ms McDonough.
Comment by 
TriSec on 02/27/2013 14:52:20
TriSec on 02/27/2013 14:52:20
Greetings, comrades.
Some days I think the only RX for a sick planet would be a massive, Chicxulub-sized meteor.
But I digress.
Some days I think the only RX for a sick planet would be a massive, Chicxulub-sized meteor.
But I digress.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:59:19
Si! Yes! Oui! Ja! Da!
Out of the gate with "You're the worst excuse for a journalist I've ever seen."
Take it to him Keith!
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 14:59:19
Quote by Raine:
Keith Ellison rawks.
Si! Yes! Oui! Ja! Da!
Out of the gate with "You're the worst excuse for a journalist I've ever seen."
Take it to him Keith!
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 15:05:37
Read this for a very good perspective
Raine on 02/27/2013 15:05:37
Quote by Mondobubba:
Really Katie McDonough? "We Saw Your Boobs" celbrates rape?
You're a day late and dollar short, Ms McDonough.
Read this for a very good perspective
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 15:21:26
Yep that's about right.
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 15:21:26
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Really Katie McDonough? "We Saw Your Boobs" celbrates rape?
You're a day late and dollar short, Ms McDonough.
Read this for a very good perspective
Yep that's about right.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 15:22:36
I'm sensing a some crankiness today. This will help.
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 15:22:36
I'm sensing a some crankiness today. This will help.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 15:56:07
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 15:56:07
I'm with Hal, I want a sword.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:16:49
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:16:49
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
Comment by TriSec on 02/27/2013 16:18:02
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
TriSec on 02/27/2013 16:18:02
Quote by Mondobubba:
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 16:21:55
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 16:21:55
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 16:21:58
Raine on 02/27/2013 16:21:58
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 16:22:42
I'm currently dressing it and preparing to slow cook it in the crock pot.
Raine on 02/27/2013 16:22:42
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:29:42
Mmm that'll be good eatin'
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:29:42
Quote by Raine:I'm currently dressing it and preparing to slow cook it in the crock pot.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
Mmm that'll be good eatin'
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 16:34:40
Raine on 02/27/2013 16:34:40
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 16:35:38
All I have to do is remove the fur... it's already like pulled chicken.
Raine on 02/27/2013 16:35:38
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:I'm currently dressing it and preparing to slow cook it in the crock pot.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
What the cutest animal on the planet killed the blog?
I shot it with my second-ammendment assault rifle. Sorry.
Mmm that'll be good eatin'
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:46:53
Yes we are all cranky today!
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 16:46:53
Quote by Raine:
Yes we are all cranky today!
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 17:18:03
This was the piece de' resistance:
Raine on 02/27/2013 17:18:03
Quote by Raine:
Florida man shot by his dog --
Lanier wasn't seriously injured, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr, who actually said police didn't arrest the dog because the investigation was pending, the Tribune reported.
Comment by 
clintster on 02/27/2013 17:18:47
The ending was the best part:
clintster on 02/27/2013 17:18:47
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Keith Ellison rawks.
Si! Yes! Oui! Ja! Da!
Out of the gate with "You're the worst excuse for a journalist I've ever seen."
Take it to him Keith!
The ending was the best part:
Hannity: I tried to give you a fair shot.
Ellison: No you didn’t.
Comment by clintster on 02/27/2013 17:19:44
He'll get off on the Stand Your GRRRRRRRRRRRRound law.
clintster on 02/27/2013 17:19:44
Quote by Raine:This was the piece de' resistance:Quote by Raine:
Florida man shot by his dog --Lanier wasn't seriously injured, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr, who actually said police didn't arrest the dog because the investigation was pending, the Tribune reported.
He'll get off on the Stand Your GRRRRRRRRRRRRound law.
Comment by TriSec on 02/27/2013 17:27:21
TriSec on 02/27/2013 17:27:21
Profiles in Lack-of-Courage
Supporters of same-sex marriage hope for a boost this week when dozens of high-profile Republicans, many no longer in office, submit their legal argument to the Supreme Court on why gays and lesbians should be allowed to wed, bucking their party's platform in a move that one who had a change of heart on the issue said would “strengthen our nation as a whole.â€
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 17:28:39
Raine on 02/27/2013 17:28:39
Ok, from Steve Schmidt... 
“Look, this CPAC convention is increasingly the Star Wars bar scene of the conservative movement. I mean all that’s missing at that convention is a couple of Wookiees,†Schmidt said on MSNBC on Tuesday, referencing a popular “Star Wars†fictional species.
Comment by 
livingonli on 02/27/2013 17:28:56
livingonli on 02/27/2013 17:28:56
Good day, folks. Crappy weather always gets me depressed.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 17:29:10
Woof!
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 17:29:10
Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:This was the piece de' resistance:Quote by Raine:
Florida man shot by his dog --Lanier wasn't seriously injured, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr, who actually said police didn't arrest the dog because the investigation was pending, the Tribune reported.
He'll get off on the Stand Your GRRRRRRRRRRRRound law.
Woof!
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 17:29:26
well played!
Raine on 02/27/2013 17:29:26
Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:This was the piece de' resistance:Quote by Raine:
Florida man shot by his dog --Lanier wasn't seriously injured, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr, who actually said police didn't arrest the dog because the investigation was pending, the Tribune reported.
He'll get off on the Stand Your GRRRRRRRRRRRRound law.
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 17:43:38
What I loved was they linked to the stupid Floridian story from last week Woman shot by oven
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 17:43:38
Quote by Raine:well played!Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:This was the piece de' resistance:Quote by Raine:
Florida man shot by his dog --Lanier wasn't seriously injured, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr, who actually said police didn't arrest the dog because the investigation was pending, the Tribune reported.
He'll get off on the Stand Your GRRRRRRRRRRRRound law.
What I loved was they linked to the stupid Floridian story from last week Woman shot by oven
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 18:20:11
Raine on 02/27/2013 18:20:11
Jeebus. Scalia, REALLY?
WASHINGTON, DC — There were audible gasps in the Supreme Court’s lawyer’s lounge, where audio of the oral argument is pumped in for members of the Supreme Court bar, when Justice Antonin Scalia offered his assessment of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. He called it a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.â€
Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2013 18:31:50
livingonli on 02/27/2013 18:31:50
Even bypassing the Shockwave program. Chrome is still so buggy. I went through Netscape and its many successors that worked fine until they were no longer supported and now this. I might as well just stick with firefox at this point.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 18:38:17
I'm still finding it crashes but it seems not at often for me
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 18:38:17
Quote by livingonli:
Even bypassing the Shockwave program. Chrome is still so buggy. I went through Netscape and its many successors that worked fine until they were no longer supported and now this. I might as well just stick with firefox at this point.
I'm still finding it crashes but it seems not at often for me
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 19:10:34
Wow...words fail. Would it be wrong for people of faith to pray the man has a fatal stroke?
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 19:10:34
Quote by Raine:
Jeebus. Scalia, REALLY?WASHINGTON, DC — There were audible gasps in the Supreme Court’s lawyer’s lounge, where audio of the oral argument is pumped in for members of the Supreme Court bar, when Justice Antonin Scalia offered his assessment of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. He called it a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.â€
Wow...words fail. Would it be wrong for people of faith to pray the man has a fatal stroke?
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 19:59:59
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 19:59:59
I swear, it wasn't till we moved into this new building and put all the office staff on the same floor/hall that I've discovered how annoying people in other departments are 
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 20:18:26
Mala, start using your yet untapped psy powers to make some heads explode. That will cut down on that. They will treat you so very nice as well.
Mondobubba on 02/27/2013 20:18:26
Quote by wickedpam:
I swear, it wasn't till we moved into this new building and put all the office staff on the same floor/hall that I've discovered how annoying people in other departments are
Mala, start using your yet untapped psy powers to make some heads explode. That will cut down on that. They will treat you so very nice as well.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 20:28:24
I'll have to give that a try.
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 20:28:24
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
I swear, it wasn't till we moved into this new building and put all the office staff on the same floor/hall that I've discovered how annoying people in other departments are
Mala, start using your yet untapped psy powers to make some heads explode. That will cut down on that. They will treat you so very nice as well.
I'll have to give that a try.
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 20:40:29
LOVE 
the clip of Reid saying *Ass*
Raine on 02/27/2013 20:40:29
LOVE the clip of Reid saying *Ass*
Comment by Raine on 02/27/2013 20:42:27
Raine on 02/27/2013 20:42:27
OUr next door neighbors are having their concrete patio removed in the back yard. They have been using a jackhammer for the past 6 hours.
I left the house for nearly 2 hours... Just for some peace of brain.
My brain feels like scambled eggs. My god – I hope they are done soon.
I left the house for nearly 2 hours... Just for some peace of brain.
My brain feels like scambled eggs. My god – I hope they are done soon.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/27/2013 20:45:02
jees, that's really extreme - did they warn you before they started this?
wickedpam on 02/27/2013 20:45:02
Quote by Raine:
OUr next door neighbors are having their concrete patio removed in the back yard. They have been using a jackhammer for the past 6 hours.
I left the house for nearly 2 hours... Just for some peace of brain.
My brain feels like scambled eggs. My god – I hope they are done soon.
jees, that's really extreme - did they warn you before they started this?
Comment by Will in Chicago on 02/27/2013 20:47:30
Thanks, everyone!! I am home today, relaxing. (Okay, I had to do laundry.)
Thanks to everyone here for your support and friendship. It has indeed meant a lot to me over the years.
I will spend some time job hunting today and see about dinner. I did go out with friends on Sunday.
Will in Chicago on 02/27/2013 20:47:30
Quote by Raine:
Thanks, everyone!! I am home today, relaxing. (Okay, I had to do laundry.)
Thanks to everyone here for your support and friendship. It has indeed meant a lot to me over the years.
I will spend some time job hunting today and see about dinner. I did go out with friends on Sunday.