From the credits:
Eugene Chudnovsky holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Physics at City University of New York in New York City. He is also a fellow of the American Physical Society.
This kind of stuck out to me since the physics Dr. Chudnovsky refers to is thermodynamics: "the study of energy and its transformations" (as I recall my undergraduate textbook's definition).
His article appeared on Physics Today's under the title "The Physics of Unemployment." From the provided link:
The author points out the close correlation between employment and energy consumption, which almost seems oxymoron: employed people spend more in goods as well as energy usage (new gadgets; more electricity usage). We also we may inevitably have to face two physics facts possibly:
- Alternatives like wind and solar sound green and attractive, but we've historically gotten more "bang-for-the-buck" from deceased dinosaurs.
- "Green" battery-powered vehicles can also be quite dangerous, and have a few bugs to work out in its own right.
- We may inevitably have to come to the reluctant conclusion that nuclear energy will have a "greener effect" on the environment (just need a way to store fission byproducts while waiting out the half-life); fusion for that reason being the more desirable of course.
It is naive at best to think our consumption can go on forever; that our assumptions of how to fix things scientifically takes us only in one direction. It is equally naive to ignore the impact of fossil fuels on our climate.
This article attracted my attention largely because for point 3, we'll have to plan and design accordingly to avoid another Fukushima. I believe examining other people's experiences works as the best teacher.
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