[rowante]

Nobelist says peak oil here within a decade. Oilwatch has mentioned this before but no-one really took any notice...
...remember the thin nanosolar cells:

http://www.nanosolar.com/default.htm

well check this out...

http://nanotech.research.ucf.edu/articles_nobelist.html

A Nobel prize winning scientist, Richard E. Smalley believes in the impending dangers of peak oil.

"... And "it can't be fossil energy," Smalley said, noting that oil production "will peak worldwide" sometime in this decade and then settle into a steady decline—taking our economy with it if we remain dependent on oil for energy, he said."

To people following the development of nanotechnology Richard E. Smalley's name is a familiar one. Recently he has been involved in a public debate with K. Eric Drexler (who is a pioneer of nanotechnology) about the feasiblility of molecular manufacturing (which, if achieved will remake the world for good or bad). I would imagine that Smalley has close links to the Bush admistration from the NNI (National Nanotech Initiative) - this is just speculation but could be another clue that Governments are very aware about peak oil.

Smalley thinks that the only solution is to harness solar power via nanotechnology.

"To make solar power work, "We need to find ways to make photovoltaics as cheap as paint"—and, again, nanotechnology can make the difference, he said.

Solving this gigantic energy problem, which Smalley termed "the largest enterprise of humanity" on the horizon, would go far toward solving many of humanity's other most pressing problems—such as food and water supplies, environmental degradation, and poverty—because they are so directly affected by the availability of energy, he said."

Let's hope it becomes "as cheap as paint". It's about the most viable option I have seen, hydrogen economy run from nanosolar power. Needs a massive push in the political arena. Lets hope this issue becomes more mainstream, keep badgering people!! (Personally my badgering credits are almost up, girlfriend already rolls her eyes at the very hint of an impending Peak Oil discussion).

[Aaron]

I have an interview with Professor Smalley next week, and need help with a list of possible questions for him...


Thanks in advance

aaron

[Webster Hubble Telescope]

I saw Smalley give a keynote speech last year. He was very focussed on global energy issues. Suggested questions include:
1. Is there still hope in using the moon to collect solar power and then beam to Earth?
(this was his best hope as of last year)
2. Ask about the abiotic theories of oil generation (will likely dismiss out-of-hand)
3. How to lure more students into engineering and science? (a pet cause of his)
4. How did his commitee briefings on Capitol Hill get received?

My previous thoughts on Smalley
http://mobjectivist.blogspot.com/2004/05/another-phd-chimes-in.html

[rowante]

Questions for Dr. Smalley...

1. Have there been any recent advances in nanotechnology that directly effect energy production?

2. How will nanotechnology effect the manufacturing industry, will it make substantial efficiency gains lowering demand for energy? If it will, has he heard of Javon's Paradox - his thoughts...

3. What are his opinions on a 'Hydrogen Economy' viable or not?

[maverickdoc]

some one posted a link to Dr. Richard Smalley lec at columbia this morning can you repost those links. I looked I just could not find it.

thanks

mav

[Aaron]

http://www.peakoil.com/gate.html?name=W ... ink&cid=13

[maverickdoc]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'h')ttp://www.peakoil.com/gate.html?name=Web_Links&l_op=viewlink&cid=13

[Aaron]

Naw... others might benefit from it.

I actually went and met with Dr. Smalley some time ago, and taped an interview, which has been buried in our less than efficient ripping process somewhere it seems, but is still in the works as I have heard.

Real nice guy, very friendly.

Agrees that ASPO has a better grasp on the big picture than other sources.

His big push these days is about generating academic interest in energy careers. He says they don't really have the people or labs to really push research forward no matter how much money we dedicate to new science.

[EnviroEngr]

FYI:
Tape will be on its way to Atlanta tomorrow, Aaron.

[Agren]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')is big push these days is about generating academic interest in energy careers. He says they don't really have the people or labs to really push research forward no matter how much money we dedicate to new science.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Agren', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')is big push these days is about generating academic interest in energy careers. He says they don't really have the people or labs to really push research forward no matter how much money we dedicate to new science.

[Agren]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'h')uh?

[Aaron]

[EnviroEngr]

Wow, didn't see that coming. FYI in my neck of the woods is read "For Your Information". I have to rely, to some extent, on regional connotations.

And, it did go out today. No mail on Monday should put it there Tuesday. He has your particulars already printed on a label with instructions. Should go well.

[Agren]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')YI in my neck of the woods is read "For Your Information".

[PenultimateManStanding]

Brilliant man, marvelous achievements. But after 10 minutes of watching I couldn't bear listening any longer. He seems too constrained by social neccessity from delivering his message forcefully and must hem and haw and beat around the bush. In a nutshell: no solution, we're screwed, not enough intellectual capital he laments to really get it done as things stand now. (remember the mindless giddy teenager thread in which marek provided all those charts to show that young people are not achieveing intellectual progress?) Oil was a one time deal with nothing to follow probably anyway even if we had all kinds of marvelous intellect at our disposal.

[Nano]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'B')rilliant man, marvelous achievements. But after 10 minutes of watching I couldn't bear listening any longer. He seems too constrained by social neccessity from delivering his message forcefully and must hem and haw and beat around the bush.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')m. It was *precisely* his strained hemming and hawing that brought his true message home to me. Brought tears to my eyes even, just like Bartlett's lecture for the US Congress, although Bartlett WAS more brutal in his delivery.

[Ayoob]

http://www.betterhumans.com/News/1123/Default.aspx

In the second recent development, Y-shaped carbon nanotubes grown with iron-titanium particles have been found to act as remarkably efficient transistors that are 100 times smaller than current day transistors.

According to a New Scientist report:

Tiny tubes of carbon, crafted into the shape of a Y, could revolutionise the computer industry, suggests new research.

The work has shown that Y-shaped carbon nanotubes are easily made and act as remarkably efficient electronic transistors - the toggles used to control the flow of electrons through computer circuits.

But the nanotransistors are just a few hundred millionths of a metre in size -roughly 100 times smaller than the components used in today’s microprocessors. They could, therefore, be used to create microchips several orders of magnitude more powerful than the ones used in computers today, with no increase in chip size.

[Phaethon]

When I was a highschool student I met Dr. Smalley. He gave a nice lecture to my group visiting Rice Univ on his work.

He called that y shaped thing, the 'y-knot buckyball'..

* i thought it was clever..*