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Energy is the only universal currency. One of its many forms must be transformed into another in order for stars to shine, planets to rotate, living things to grow, and civilizations to evolve. Recognition of this universality was one of the great achievements of nineteenth-century science, yet even today there is little literature that tries to view the world broadly through the prism of energy.In this highly original book, ecologist Vaclav Smil takes the principle of universality seriously, presenting a comprehensive and integrated survey of all the forms of energy that shape our world, from the sun to the human body, from bread to microchips. Written in a scientifically sophisticated yet accessible style, Energies consists of eighty-two short essays organized under six headings: Sun and Earth, Plants and Animals, People and Food, Preindustrial Societies, Fossil-Fueled Civilization, and Motion and Information. Each essay explains the science of the energy form as well as its implications for the functioning of the universe, life, or human society. Cross-links and summary diagrams allow easy comparisons among the various levels and flows of energy.
Acknowledgments
Energy’s Unique Allure: An Unorthodox Look
An Overview of Concepts and Units
Sun and Earth
Sun
Solar Radiation
Atmosphere
Planet Earth
Winds
Rains
Oceans
Rivers
Earth’s Heat
Geotectonics
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Denudation
Space Encounters
Plants and Animals
Adenosine Triphosphate
Archaea and Bacteria
Photosynthesis
C3 and C4 Plants
Phytoplankton
Forests
Grasslands
Heterotrophic Metabolism
Reproduction
Growth
Food Chains
Herbivores
Carnivores
Swimming
Running and Jumping
Flying
People and Food
Basal Metabolism
Thermoregulation
Pregnancy and Lactation
Human Growth
Walking and Running
Labor and Leisure
Nutrients
Grains
Bread
Lipids and Meat
Milk
Ethanol
Preindustrial Societies
Hunters and Gatherers
Shifting Cultivation
Traditional Agricultures
Cattle
Horses
Wood, Charcoal, and Straw
Waterwheels
Windmills
Copper, Iron, and Steel
Gunpowder
Sailships
Fossil-Fueled Civilization
Fossil Fuels and Electricity
Coals
Crude Oils
Natural Gases
Steam Engines
Steam Turbines
Water Turbines
Fission Reactors
Transmission
Electric Motors
Lights
Internal Combustion Engines
Gas Turbines
Blast Furnaces
Aluminum
Nitrogen
Nuclear Weapons
Transportation and Information
Trains
Ships
Bicycles
Cars
Airplanes
Rockets
Pipelines
Tankers
Telephones
Radio and Television
Computers and Microchips
Further Reading
Index