I cannot think of any resource we have ever completely run out of! But the possibility that we may run out of a vital resource scares us to no end. Running out of freshwater is only the latest in a series of scares. Like we have done so many times before, we can rely on human ingenuity to find a way to forever alleviate a perceived or locally-experienced scarcity. One alternate way is to replace what's running out with something totally different.
Whale Oil to Kerosene
In the mid-19th century, whale oil was the primary fuel for lighting. This "oil" was obtained from the blubber of whales and from the head cavities (not blubber) of the sperm whale. As much as 3 tons of sperm oil could be extracted from large sperm whales.
The typical oil lamp we use today was the oil lamp used to burn whale oil.
As demand grew for whale oil, whale population reduced and whale oil price increased from $200 a barrel in 1983 to nearly $1,500 in 1885. This steep price increase encouraged many individuals to seek an alternative to whale oil.
Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner is credited with developing the way to produce an alternative to whale oil in 1885. He developed the process to distill from bituminous tar, a widely abundant and cheap resource available more commonly than whales, a different kind of oil called Kerosene.
This is the same kerosene we use today to fuel or jet planes.
Scarcity had motivated an individual to innovate a way out of an earlier resource shortage!
Charcoal to Coal
Charcoal is a fuel produced by heating wood (and other substances) in the absence of oxygen.
Charcoal became scarce in the 17th century when wood use jumped in Europe to meet shipbuilding needs and when forests began to be cleared to produce land for agriculture.
Charcoal prices increased till it was replaced by coal as a primary fuel for heating for a variety of domestic and industrial uses.
Coal is today, the most widely used fossil fuel.
Charcoal continues to be the fuel choice in underdeveloped countries where forests have been decimated by human demand for charcoal for domestic use.
Charcoal's replacement by coal is yet another example of how human ingenuity eradicated a shortage.
Replacement for Water?
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for water and freshwater. So human ingenuity must be applied in a different way. The next post (dated 21 Jan 2012) will address how our reliance on science can help
Whale Oil to Kerosene
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| Whale Oil Source - Wikipedia.org |
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| Whale Oil Lamp Source - ioffer.com |
As demand grew for whale oil, whale population reduced and whale oil price increased from $200 a barrel in 1983 to nearly $1,500 in 1885. This steep price increase encouraged many individuals to seek an alternative to whale oil.
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| Kerosene Drums Source - hiwtc.com |
This is the same kerosene we use today to fuel or jet planes.
Scarcity had motivated an individual to innovate a way out of an earlier resource shortage!
Charcoal to Coal
 |
| Charcoal Source - gallerytunsten.com |
Charcoal became scarce in the 17th century when wood use jumped in Europe to meet shipbuilding needs and when forests began to be cleared to produce land for agriculture.
Charcoal prices increased till it was replaced by coal as a primary fuel for heating for a variety of domestic and industrial uses.
Coal is today, the most widely used fossil fuel.
Charcoal continues to be the fuel choice in underdeveloped countries where forests have been decimated by human demand for charcoal for domestic use.
Charcoal's replacement by coal is yet another example of how human ingenuity eradicated a shortage.
Replacement for Water?
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for water and freshwater. So human ingenuity must be applied in a different way. The next post (dated 21 Jan 2012) will address how our reliance on science can help
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