The Science of Energy: Resources and Power Explained

Learning how much energy is required to power human civilization; what makes cities, factories, homes and cars energy inefficient; how the average individual affects energy directions; from engineering to biology and chemistry to geophysics.

Energy is a fundamental part of our universe; Professor Wysession introduces the many forms energy takes, including potential, kinetic, mechanical and thermal energy; he explains how energy is measured to make one more fluent in energy-speak.

One of the first forms of energy that humans learn to use is heat; examining three ways heat flows; these are radiation, convection and conduction; the heat flow equation and the concept of entropy; the inner workings of a heat engine machine.

Discovering what makes electricity an attractive vehicle for energy; how electricity can come from oil, coal, solar and other forces; electricity travels through wires with the help of voltage; easier to choose the source of electricity.

Chemical energy is the potential energy resulting from the position of atoms within molecules; an overview of photosynthesis; combustion transforms biofuels into light and heat; energy density affects the transportation of biofuels like petroleum.

Studying coal, one of energy's most polarizing topics; where coal comes from and how it develops; what makes coal clean or dirty; which nations have the largest coal reserves; some advantages to coal energy; strip mining impacts the environment.

Petroleum and the science behind this common fossil fuel; knowing how it is formed, found and processed; its transportation and uses; insights into related topics; geologic structures such as anticlines and the growth of the petroleum industry.

The newest trends in oil and gas production; Professor Wysession explains the difference between conventional and unconventional oil; the geology of oil sands and oil shales; the risks of fracking, which can cause earthquakes and other damage.

Fossil fuels come with a long list of drawbacks; the various financial, environmental and health concerns surrounding one's reliance on fossil fuels; coal fires and oil spills; recent technological and legislative efforts to combat these problems.

Carbon dioxide is a pollutant significant to human civilization; Professor Wysession focuses solely on carbon dioxide; learning why carbon dioxide can be so harmful if it is only 0.04% of the atmosphere; actions to take to reduce its dangers.

Traveling to the subatomic level for an exploration of how nuclear energy is generated; touching on everything from nuclear fission and radioactive decay; the inner workings of nuclear power plants; the attendant fears and concerns of core meltdowns.

Professor Wysession explains how uranium is used to make electricity through nuclear fission; some of the upsides of nuclear energy, including its nearly unlimited power; and its downsides such as its inability to become decentralized or portable.

Sunlight is an inexhaustible source of energy; why the sun gives off light; how much sunlight energy the earth's surface gets in a day; how much land is needed to supply all energy needs through sunlight; the geographical problems with solar power.

A big area of growth for solar energy is transforming sunlight into electricity with the aid of solar panels; photovoltaic solar panels convert sunlight into functional power; other solar-related technologies like solar troughs and solar towers.

Wind power is another growing source of renewable energy; giant wind turbines provide us with energy; a brief history of how humans tap into wind's potential; the meteorology of how wind works; the best regions for wind power; using wind turbines.

Hydroelectric power is a large renewable source of electricity; the benefits of hydroelectric power and its drawbacks; how hydroelectricity generation works; run-of-the-river and impoundment-style power plants; the basics of the water cycle.

Liquid biofuels like biodiesel and corn-based ethanol are the most rapidly growing forms of biomass energy; some chemical reaction routes that transform solid plant biomass into liquids with high-energy densities; the implications of biofuels.

Studying geothermal energy; the energy budget of the planet; two main ways of using geothermal energy; five different technologies used for hydrothermal power systems; dry steam power plants; the concept of shallow ground source heat pumps.

The sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow; storing renewable energy from these and other sources; basic as well as high-performance technologies for storing the surplus of energy from sources such as wind and solar farms.

Transportation is an enormous part of the global total energy consumption; scientists work to make popular modes of transportation fuel-efficient, including the topic of electric cars and whether they are truly more efficient than gas-powered ones.

Knowing where energy is commonly wasted, becoming a more efficient energy user: this discussion is filled with takeaways to help anyone become more energy efficient in various sectors and settings — industries, transportation and residences.

Professor Wysession outlines major forces shaping the development of the world's energy resources; hidden costs affect the economics of supply and demand; how governments incentivize and disincentivize energy industries; international agreements.

The possible advancements in the areas of energy resources; the growth of tidal and wave energy; the difficulty of nuclear fusion; the energy potential of earthquakes and supervolcanoes; space arrays of solar panels designed to capture solar energy.

According to Professor Wysession, there is no easy solution to the world's energy future; he estimates how much energy one needs, what sources are available and how to think realistically and optimistically about one's energy consumption.