Energy: Engine of EvolutionElsevier, 2005 M09 15 - 212 pages Energy: Engine of Evolution describes the importance of energy in the evolution of nature and culture on Earth. The book presents a compact history of energy for the creation of a sound basis for understanding the possible futures of the energy industry. It also brings a fresh element into the discussion on sustainable development. This scientific monograph consists of two parts. Part I is composed of five chapters with details on the history of planet Earth along the tracks left by energy. These five chapters correspond with the five successive energy revolutions. Energy revolution marks the boundaries between energy periods, and an energy period is characterized by an ecologically dominant energy regime. Part II is comprised of two chapters and an appendix. The first chapter describes a model called ""Staircase of Energy Regimes"" for the role of energy in the evolution of life. The second chapter then applies the Staircase model in exploring the pathways to a more sustainable future. This book will be of value to anyone interested in a ""sustainable future of system Earth"". |
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Aerobic Regime aerobic respiration Agrian Agrocultural Regime animals anthropogenic anthroposphere Arcadian artefacts billion years ago biological blue-greens brain Carbian Carbocultural Regime carbohydrates carbon dioxide cell century chemical co-evolution coal combustion complex converted dissipation ecologically dominant economy ecosystems electricity emergent properties Encyclopædia Britannica energy chains energy flow energy gradient energy regime energy revolution energy-dissipating structure entropy environment equilibrium eukaryotic evolution evolutionary energetics evolved fire mastery fossil fuels genes genus Homo global Goudsblom growth heat Homo heidelbergensis Homo sapiens human culture hydrogen hyperthermophile Imperial industrial innovation invention living organisms man’s material memes memetic metabolism molecular molecules noösphere nuclear nuclear fission origin oxygen percent photosynthesis planet Earth plants population production Pyrocultural Richard Fortey Second Law social societal metabolism society socio-metabolic Socio-Technological Development sociosystems solar energy species Staircase of Energy sunlight sustainable development Symbian symbolic system Earth Thermodynamics tion today’s utilisation