Even before the arrival of our own particular species, the hominid revolution was under way. About 1.89 million years ago, Homo erectus took a bow on the evolutionary stage. But standing upright wasn’t this hominid’s only advantage. According to History.com, evidence found in South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave show that H. erectus had harnessed fire—once considered an innovation of Homo sapiens.
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By Sharan Street
Published Oct 10, 2022
Humans have been searching for the perfect energy source for millennia. But clean, unlimited power only exists in science fiction.
Image credit: Ilina93
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10-10-22: Quest for Fire
Fossil Record
Since then, human history has been all about discovering, exploiting and—inevitably—depleting new sources of power. In a comprehensive series on California Local, Jonathan Vankin takes a look at California’s energy resources—past, present and future.
Fossil Fuels and Climate Change: A Brief Introduction
How does extracting and burning fossil fuels cause the planet to heat up, leading to catastrophic climate change? Here's a brief explanation.
Natural Gas and California’s Energy Future
Natural gas is sometimes called a 'clean' fossil fuel, but it comes with considerable risks to the environment in both its use and how it is extracted. Here's how natural gas is a major cause of climate change.
Soft Power
But each form of energy that fuels modern life comes with its own negative side effects. So now it’s all about renewable energy: wind, solar and hydroelectric. Yet each of these come with its own set of problems, as Vankin reports.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals
Solar power, and a network of giant battery storage facilities, are playing an essential role in moving California toward its goal of exclusive reliance on renewable energy sources.
Is Hydroelectric Energy Really Clean? It’s Complicated
Hydroelectric is widely thought of as renewable energy that can help California achieve its climate goals. But the state doesn't even count large hydro plants toward its goal of 100 percent renewable electricity sources.
Offshore Wind Energy: Key to State’s Clean Energy Goals
Wind power is essential to meeting California's goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2045. Moving wind farms offshore is the next step. Sites off of Morro Bay and Eureka will soon be leased by the federal government.
Plant-Based Power
As science fiction writers figured out long ago, envisioning the future usually involves imagining a world where humans have learned even more powerful ways to harness energy. Back in 1965, when the original Star Trek hit the television airwaves, rare dilithium crystals kept matter-antimatter reactors in check—a fantasy power source which in its volatility bore no small resemblance to nuclear power plants, the first prototype of which emerged in 1951.
These days, Star Trek is thinking about renewables too. What could be more ecologically friendly than combining physics and mycology to create a spore-fueled method to travel faster than light? That’s the technological breakthrough created by Dr. Paul Stamets on Star Trek: Discovery. (Played by Anthony Rapp, the character is based on a real-life mycologist.) Sure, it sounds far-fetched now. But we’re going to need some mighty impressive new energy sources to survive another million years.
Nuclear Power in California: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
California may soon shut down its last nuclear power plant, but Gov. Gavin Newsom who once championed the closure has had a change of heart. Federal funds may now keep the plant running.
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