You are listening to Curiosity Curated. I am Zong.

In our previous episode, we plunged into the foundational shifts that made our modern world: how humanity itself multiplied across the globe, and how we learned to feed billions. We witnessed the dramatic demographic transition from short, precarious lives to unprecedented longevity, and the agricultural revolution that transformed scarcity into abundance for many. These changes set the stage for an entirely new way of living.

But how did we power this dramatic expansion? And as we look to the future, with the urgent need for a low-carbon world, can the energy transition truly be a swift and linear shift away from fossil fuels? Are our expectations aligned with the deep historical patterns of energy change?

As we continue to unravel those historical grand transitions as told by Vaclav Smil, in this episode, we'll explore the historical energy transitions that built our world, and then confront the unforeseen complexities and formidable obstacles facing our current, troubled path to a low-carbon future—a path that challenges many assumptions.

00:22 Episode Intro

02:00 The Ascent of Fire: From Wood to Hydrocarbons

07:30 The Electric Age: Lighting and Powering Everything

12:44 The Economic Miracle: Growth and Re-Invention

19:54 Current Energy Transition: Expectations Reset

21:00 The Scale of Dependence

22:26 The Electrical Surge: Unforeseen Demands

25:13 Costs and Complications: The Trillion-Dollar Challenge

26:49 Energy Insecurity: A Geopolitical Fault Line

29:10 The New Divide: North vs. South

31:20 Fundamentals Realities According to Smil

Sources:

Grand Transitions by Vaclav Smil

The Troubled Energy Transition: How to Find a Pragmatic Path Forward, Daniel Yergin et al, www.foreignaffairs.com

Energy Transitions: Fundamental in Six Points, Vaclav Smil

Opening Music: Neg Odor One Day by Horse Radio

Closing Music: Who Am I by Dario Lupo

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