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Arithmetic, Population and Energy - FULL LENGTH

kip399 · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Climate policy, solutions & debateUniversity lectures & coursesEarth & energy (other)

What it is

Physicist Albert Bartlett's full-length lecture on how steady exponential growth in population and energy use collides with finite resources. It uses examples like bacteria in a bottle and covers peak oil.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN repeatedly quotes its thesis that humanity's greatest shortcoming is failing to understand the exponential function.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2016, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “it shows a common blindspot in a way that is both clear, enlightening and frightening.”

    Clear, enlightening and frightening talk on exponential blindspot

    shahar2k, 2016-10 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What's your favorite tech talk?”

  2. “Your point reminds me of my favorite guest lecture I've ever seen”

    Commenter's favorite guest lecture ever

    theossuary, 2023-07 · Strong recommendation · in “There’s a heatwave in the sea and scientists are worried”

  3. “I recommend few videos for you.”

    Listed among sobering talks on overshoot and collapse

    myshpa, 2023-07 · Recommendation · in “How, Mathematically, We’re Fucked: Exponential growth on a finite planet”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: exponential growth, al bartlett, population, energy, peak oil

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