Progress and Difficulties in Humanity’s Search for Energy Sources - Cooking

Undoubtedly one of the greatest inventions in human history

Cooking distinguishes humans from other living things in a unique way. A human’s never-ending quest for energy sources began with the discovery of fire as a form of energy derived from the sun. One specific species, the human being, has discovered and improved numerous energy sources over the years. In addition, it has used fresh strategies to harness the sun’s energy to the fullest. From firewood to nuclear power, so many innovations have been created. Alfred W. Crosby asserts that humanity has accomplished amazing feats. He wrote to explain the milestones that human has achieved since the Stone Age to the present. However, he also appreciates that numerous challenges have accompanied these achievements. This paper indulges into the milestones and also examines some of the difficulties of humanity\u2019s search for energy sources.

Milestones of Humanity\u2019s Search for Sources of Energy

As highlighted by Alfred W. Crosby, the first and the critical discovery by humankind was the fire and cooking (Crosby). From the Paleolithic period about 500,000 thousand years ago, humans discovered a way of using wood to produce fire and later on learned that this fire could be used to cook food (Pasqualetti 638). After this period the humanity realized that cooked food was delicious and therefore went ahead to find more food. In the process of searching more food, human discovered about the domestication of wild organisms, and this is how agriculture started. Crop production and livestock keeping took off well and is still practiced to date. The second milestone of the search for energy sources was the use of fossilized fuel (Crosby).

The growing desire for more energy and the increase in the urge to make its life better propelled the humanity to greater discoveries (Pasqualetti 638). Fossil fuels were sun energy stored in a chemical form and this fuel included coal and steam, oil and the ice and later on electricity. One advantage with fossil fuels such as coal is that it contained more energy than firewood. Moreover, coal could be used to produce steam to drive engines that improved the productivity of this species (Crosby). Discovery of coal stimulated industrialization resulting to the invention steam engines later on the creating petroleum engines (Crosby). At this point, humanity had gone a million miles ahead of all other creature on earth.

Another notable milestone according to Alfred W. Crosby was the invention of electricity which turned out to be more efficient and all their efforts were directed towards the generation of electric energy (Crosby). The steam engines proved to be more static, especially those that could produce sufficient power to run a whole factory (Pasqualetti 638). In the 19th century is when scientists researched for energy and came up with electromagnetism (Crosby). Michael Faraday invented electricity, and this took over from internal combustible engines by converting kinetic energy to the electromagnetic force which is then converted to electric current. This was a significant breakthrough in human efforts to tap more power from the sun (Pasqualetti 638). The human did not cease its search for more energy and therefore has managed to produce electricity from various sources ranging from steam engines to nuclear power. From steam engines, hydroelectric power was discovered before deciding to tap directly from sunlight in the name of solar panels (Crosby). Advanced windmills accompanied this revolution and then geothermal power and tidal energy. However, this was still not enough for human making it to venture into further search to discover nuclear fission and fusion. Children of the sun have used much of the available energy from it and with the current quest for political power and industrial superiority among nations; this appetite for energy will just keep growing (Pasqualetti 638). The primary concern remains that extraction of energy comes with side effects and the question is; is the humanity capable of addressing these challenges effectively? However, before looking at solutions, it is imperative to identify the problems associated with the search for sources of energy.

Challenges of Humanity\u2019s Search for Sources of Energy

The ever growing desire for more efficient sources of energy by humans have not only led to civilization and industrialization but has also created significant problems to the planet earth (Pasqualetti 638). Starting with the direct impact of energy generation, wood, fossil, and nuclear energy have led to environmental pollution to a great extent (Crosby). The burning of fossil fuel contributes a substantial amount of carbon dioxide that has resulted in rapid global warming. Environmentalists and climate scientists are sending warning messages that if CO2 emission is not contained, there will be more climate change (Crosby). Climate change is responsible for the perpetual droughts and floods happening today around the world. It is not only the combustion of fossils that results to a large carbon footprint, but also industries contribute significant levels (Pasqualetti 639). Apart from the problem of global warming, carbon is also detrimental human health and that of other organisms as its carbon clogs the breathing systems resulting pulmonary disorders in animals.

Oil spillage in oceans has also endangered the aquatic life leading to extinction numerous species (Crosby). Moreover, nuclear power plants have leaked, and radioactive radiations rays and substances released to the environment are highly dangerous to human and other organisms\u2019 lives (Pasqualetti 639). Going forward, it is feared that humanity\u2019s desire for more power has taken away their concern for others to the extent that such pilferages occur but are kept from the knowledge of the public (Crosby). The rate of environmental degradation is alarming with the tapping of geothermal power which is associated with the release of sulphur oxide gases which also contribute to global warming (Crosby). Finally, the search for power has escalated animosity among nations and this has led to war outbreaks over centuries. Alfred W. Crosby mentions the quest to retain control as the primary catalyst to warmongering (Crosby). Countries have strengthened their military base by manufacturing weapons of mass destruction such as atomic bombs which can end life in the shortest time possible (Pasqualetti 639). Secondly, the current conflict between America and the Republic of North Korea is anticipated to have the potential for causing another world war. If this battle erupts, the planet will be doomed considering these countries and their alliances have amassed enough power to destroy the globe if released at once.

In conclusion

It is clear from Alfred W. Crosby work that human appetite for more sources of energy is not likely to fall but will continue to escalate with time. As much as this discovery is bringing a significant breakthrough in technology every year, it is paramount for humanity to become conscious in its endeavors. Exploitation of the sun\u2019s energy has a better share of challenges and if not controlled may lead to the destruction of the entire planet.

Works Cited

Crosby, Alfred W. Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity’s Unappeasable Appetite for Energy. New York, N.Y: Norton, 2006.

Pasqualetti, Martin J. “Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity’s Unappeasable Appetite for Energy.” Technology and Culture 47.3 (2006): 638-639.