Solar Insulation

Phiam | 09 November 2010 | journal, science | solar power | View Comments

I spend a lot of time speculating.

I think about what might have been and what really is and what could ultimately be. Some of it is fantasizing, some of it is calculating the logical conclusion from a series of assumptions.

Recently I discovered that one of my acquaintances is a solar scientist. Despite our intoxication we had a fun and frightening discussion about late night radio crazies, trolls of the Interwebs, and what the satellite data is actually indicating.

“If you can get to another habitable planet in the near future, it would probably be a good idea,” he said.

Well if we’re that certain that the Sun is going to wreak havoc on our fragile little human social order, why can’t we plan for it?

There’s been plenty of snickering about Y2K preparedness, but there was actually a great deal of resources and energy invested into upgrading our infrastructure in time to prevent any chaos. A star’s energy is still far beyond our ability to influence or defend ourselves against, but if we know what the effects will be, why can’t we develop preparedness systems and change the technologies we rely upon to be less susceptible to what is inevitable?

I’ve been wasting an enormous amount of energy and creativity on solving small minded people’s problems. Perhaps my frustrations are because I need to be focusing energy on something I feel is significant. Maybe it’s time to be an organizing force dedicated to making progress on optical computing, solar research, and alternative energy distribution. It could be the difference between a future in which we have no choice to but to be Amish, or a world built on the next generation of technology.