RE: philosophical curiosity in a long summer afternoon

["Neil, David M" <neildm@id.doe.gov>]

Any power production releases thermal energy.  I don't see it mattering
whether the original source was a supernova or that big fusion reactor 1
A.U. away whose previous energy input to Terra has been stored up as
fossil organics. ("Oil, that is. Black Gold. Texas Tea." L. Flatt & E.
Scruggs)  

Equilibrium?  Tell that one to the wooly mammoths.

Dave Neil
neildm@id.doe.gov

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	M. HASSAN TABATABAI [SMTP:taba@javanet.com]
> Sent:	Monday, July 20, 1998 2:14 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	philosophical curiosity in a long summer afternoon
> 
> Risking  being labeled as an anti nuke, I  Would like to ask the
> opinion
> 
> of the list members. The energy released in a nuclear reaction (e.g.
> Nuclear Reactor) traces back to the energy deposited in formation of
> heavy nuclei during a supernova explosion. Considering Earth as a
> planet
> 
> in dynamic equilibrium with respect to receiving solar energy; is it
> rational or ethical to release the energy of the supernova explosion
> in
> our environment and possibly upset the the energy balance of the
> planet
> in the long run?
> 
> Does anyone know of a study as to the total amount of  nuclear energy
> produced around the world? In comparison to the energy received from
> the
> 
> sun?
> 
> Just a philosophical curiosity in a long summer afternoon.
> 
> 
>