Going green has suddenly become on par with landing on the moon: fantastic and award worthy, and as Neil Armstrong and numerous scientists, engineers and politicians proved in 1969 by putting a man on the moon, a feasible technological reality. N.C. State, in conjunction with several Raleigh Research Triangle Park businesses, is competing with several teams worldwide to land a vehicle on the moon by 2012. The X PRIZE Foundation, a company offering the $30 million prize to push innovative boundaries, is apparently after the moon for more than just a stellar show.
For decades, NASA and the Department of Energy have been toying with building a collection of solar panels on the moon to harness clean, renewable energy for earth. Recently, the theory became more than science fiction, when a Massachusetts Institute of Technology team transmitted small amounts of power wirelessly using magnetically coupled resonators. Suddenly, landing on the moon in 2012 could be more than just one small step for mankind – it could be a giant leap for the green revolution.
The fact that a new discovery is innovative and exciting does not imply we should throw caution to the wind.
We’ve all heard the adage, “If something is too good to be true, it probably is.” Economists refer to this idea as “No free lunch” and scientists acknowledge it in Newton’s third law of motion “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Regardless of wording, the basic premise is the same – everything we do comes at a cost.
Cars and electricity were once considered innovative technologies providing benefits to millions. Our inability to account for the long-term effects of the resulting air pollution on the environment resulted in a game of catch up as we try to compensate for the pollution we have released into the atmosphere.
Many believe that going green requires finding a clean energy quick fix. However, this may do more harm than good. It is important that in pursuing innovative developments scientists also research the long-term impacts of these technologies. Utilizing the moon and wireless power transmission is more than just exciting – it’s out of this world. As the technology and science are still in their creative stages, we have the time to learn from our mistakes, and research the long-term implications of such a development.
The green revolution is about understanding the long-term impacts of our actions. Reaching for the moon has always been considered such an extraordinary journey, so our thoughts don’t often exceed making it to such a faraway place. Now that this lunar venture is within our grasp, we need to start considering: what happens when we get there?
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