Science Archives

How Technology Impacts Society: A Forecast for the 21st Century

What advantages do small businesses and individuals have over large companies? What’s the future of warfare? How might virtual assistants be weaponized? In The Sovereign Individual, James Davidson and William Rees-Mogg explain how technology impacts society. Writing in the 1990s, they contend that circumstances and technological developments have always shaped society and will continue to do so. Read more to learn about the ways technology influences civilization, including some of Davidson and Rees-Mogg’s predictions for the 21st century.

A Brief History of Energy Use: From Fire to Fossil Fuels

When did we become dependent on fossil fuels? What did we use before that? Vaclav Smil explains that, for millennia, the only energy sources humans relied on (besides their own labor) were fire and animals. It wasn’t until the 1900s that we began using large amounts of coal and the mid-20th century when we began relying heavily on other fossil fuels. Continue reading for a brief history of energy use.

Energy Pros and Cons: Weighing Crude Oil, Electricity, & Nuclear

Why can’t we just substitute any form of energy for another? What’s the best kind of energy for transportation? What’s the downside of electricity? Vaclav Smil says that understanding energy is essential to understanding modern societies and economic systems. We rely on energy to power our world, yet it can’t be produced from scratch. In How the World Really Works, he weighs the advantages and disadvantages of three forms of energy. Keep reading to learn about several energy pros and cons that will help you understand why the world works the way it does.

How Excessive Breathing Can Actually Damage Your Health

What is excessive breathing? How can breathing too much affect your quality of life? In The Oxygen Advantage, Patrick McKeown asserts that breathing too much is a widespread habit degrading the health of almost everyone in modern society. Specifically, the average person inhales and exhales more frequently than they should. Let’s break down what happens in your body when you breathe and how this changes when you breathe too much.

How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil: Book Overview

How does energy work? What about food production? Manufacturing? If you’re like most people, you don’t know the answers to these questions. How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil explores these matters that are central to our lives but not well understood. The bottom line he wants to communicate is that the world works because of fossil fuels. Keep reading for an overview of this book that seeks to educate us about how the world functions every day.

The Oxygen Advantage: Book Overview (Patrick McKeown)

What is the book The Oxygen Advantage about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In The Oxygen Advantage, breathing coach Patrick McKeown explains why excessive breathing results in less oxygen getting to your body. To learn how to breathe less, he teaches specific exercises that you can practice at any time. Read below for a brief The Oxygen Advantage book overview.

How to Reduce Carbon Emissions: Ideas for a Cleaner Future

What’s the fastest way to reduce carbon emissions from energy use? Which causes more deaths—fossil fuels or nuclear power? Vaclav Smil argues that we need to reduce energy use in all areas—transportation, buildings, agriculture, and industry—in order to cut down on carbon emissions. Two primary ways to do so are by generating electricity from renewable sources and by using nuclear energy. Keep reading to understand Smil’s ideas on how to reduce carbon emissions in energy use and manufacturing.

Patrick McKeown: Breathing Too Much Can Ruin Your Life

Why is breathing too much a problem? How does Patrick McKeown explain the cycle of excessive breathing? According to Patrick McKeown, breathing can become an issue if you do too much of it. His book The Oxygen Advantage says that modern living conditions cause the average person to breathe too much, which can lead to weight gain, mental health problems, and more. Keep reading to learn how taking in too much oxygen can ultimately backfire on you.

How Is Food Produced? Why We Rely on Fossil Fuels for Food

How is food produced? How has food production changed over time? Can we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to produce food? Vaclav Smil says that modern methods of food production have improved the quality of life for millions. But, it comes at the cost of burning huge quantities of fossil fuels. He discusses the history of food production as well as the role fossil fuels play in producing the food we eat. Keep reading to learn how food production works.

How to Breathe Less and Improve Respiratory Health

Why should you train yourself to take fewer breaths? How can you breathe less? Because modern society predisposes you to breathe too much, correcting this unhealthy habit requires you to deliberately train yourself to breathe less. The primary goal of this training is to build up your body’s tolerance to carbon dioxide, according to Patrick McKeown’s book The Oxygen Advantage. Continue reading to learn how to breathe less and improve your health.