Cows and Oil, Conservation of Energy in Nature
Updated 07.03.2017
Energy is somehow conserved through different forms. Plants can absorb the energy Sun can radiate to them which animals cannot. We can digest some of those plants and can use the energy sun gave but sometimes we use an intermediary biological machine. A cow for example works like that by feeding on grass and using a form of energy that we cannot use directly. The cow's intestines have a specific enzyme for breaking the bonds in cellulose (i.e. cellulase), a form of sugar found in plants. Through them the Sun's energy found a way into our cells.
Lots and lots of plants when dead are decomposed by microorganisms whereas some gets accumulated through the ages under the crust of the earth as coal and oil. The Sun's energy was reserved and concentrated as a carbon rich black matter. For the last two or three hundred years we have found a way to mine and drill the concentrated black carbon which had a powerful burning capacity. We use that heat production to move our machines, changing heat to kinetic action energy.
When we use and probably abuse the limited resources this system might work against our spread on this planet just like the bacteria are inhibited on a culture dish because of their very own toxins they produce.
Energy is somehow conserved through different forms. Plants can absorb the energy Sun can radiate to them which animals cannot. We can digest some of those plants and can use the energy sun gave but sometimes we use an intermediary biological machine. A cow for example works like that by feeding on grass and using a form of energy that we cannot use directly. The cow's intestines have a specific enzyme for breaking the bonds in cellulose (i.e. cellulase), a form of sugar found in plants. Through them the Sun's energy found a way into our cells.
Lots and lots of plants when dead are decomposed by microorganisms whereas some gets accumulated through the ages under the crust of the earth as coal and oil. The Sun's energy was reserved and concentrated as a carbon rich black matter. For the last two or three hundred years we have found a way to mine and drill the concentrated black carbon which had a powerful burning capacity. We use that heat production to move our machines, changing heat to kinetic action energy.
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| Seeping oil |
It is also a fun fact that cows and oil are the greatest contributors to climate change. I guess time is coming to give up on these cheap sources of energy.
ReplyDeleteAmazing comment :) The byproducts of the very same factors will inhibit our growth on this planet.
ReplyDeleteI'll incorporate this discussion into the entry :)
ReplyDelete