meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

The Future Of Solar Power (Narration Only)

Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Isaac Arthur

Technology, Energy Abundance, Future Of Humanity, Spacecraft, Genetics, Space Infrastructure, Scifi, Post Scarcity, Sci Fi, Technological Future, Interstellar Travel, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Space Station, Space, Long Term Future, Human Civilizaiton, Civilizaiton, Cybernetics, Science, Futurism, Space Megastructures, Space Colonization, Space Industry, Future Philosophy, Transhumanism, Spaceship, Megastructures, Physics, Starship, Astronomy, Future

4.9782 Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2022

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Solar power has been promised for decades as bringing us a bright future, and at last is beginning to see widespread use. What new innovations and opportunities await Solar in the decade to come? Sign up for a Curiosity Stream subscription and also get a free Nebula subscription (the streaming platform built by creators) here: https://curiositystream.com/isaacarthur Watch the Video Version: https://youtu.be/W-TISSvR0L4 Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content. SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE Credits: Alien: Civilizations: Hibernating Aliens Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur Episode 325, January 13, 2022 Written, Produced & Narrated by Isaac Arthur Editors: Keith Blockus Sig’unnr Yamagishi Evan Schultheis Cover Art: Jakub Grygier https://www.artstation.com/jakub_grygier Graphics: Fishy Tree https://www.deviantart.com/fishytree/ Jeremy Jozwik https://www.artstation.com/zeuxis_of_losdiajana Sergio Botero https://www.artstation.com/sboterod?fref=gc Udo Schroeter Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello, SFIA audio listeners, in this month's Nebula exclusive, Big Alien Theory,

0:05.2

we're asking the reason alien civilizations might be rare is because most aliens are huge.

0:10.5

To hear it and every episode early and ad-free, plus hours of bonus content, check out

0:15.5

go.nebula.tv slash Isaac Arthur and use my code, Isaac Arthur.

0:19.9

This video is sponsored by CuriosityStream.

0:22.5

Get access to my streaming video service, Nebula, when you sign up for CuriosityStream

0:26.3

using the link in the description.

0:28.7

You have probably heard a lot lately about the limitations of solar power as a green

0:33.6

renewable energy source, but with some new supporting technologies on the way and others

0:38.2

already in the field, the future of solar power looks as bright as the sun.

0:45.2

So in the last couple of years, we looked at the future of fusion power, of fission, of thorium,

0:50.5

and of power satellites, and I thought it was time to take a look at the future of solar power, so we will be looking at solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, space-based

1:00.1

solar, and some more variations and trying to see how the landscape will unfold.

1:05.5

Now, whenever I do an episode on the future of a given power supply, I feel obliged to say

1:10.0

up front that my own philosophy on which sort of energy given power supply, I feel obliged to say up front that my own

1:11.3

philosophy on which sort of energy we should research is yes. Barring something like a

1:17.0

micro-size and instantly throttleable matter-to-energy converter or similar, none of the power

1:22.2

concepts really on the table these days hold such an advantage over the others that we should

1:26.5

ignore them or opt for a

1:28.0

single energy option, which doesn't really seem a good idea even if one of the energy sources

1:32.8

is significantly cheaper than the others. Diversity has its value, and just because you can grow

1:38.3

corn for half the price you grow weed or sugar or rice, does not make it a good idea to get 90%

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Isaac Arthur, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Isaac Arthur and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.