Vaclav Smil

Winnipeg

I do research in the fields of energy, environmental/population change, food production/nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment, and public policy.

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Articles

The Hyperloop: A 200-Year History of Hype and Failure

1 month ago | thewire.in | Vaclav Smil

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Creating and Transforming the Twentieth Century, Revised and Expanded: Technical Innovations and Their Lasting Impact

2 months ago | academic.oup.com | Vaclav Smil

The greatest technical discontinuity in history took place between 1867 and 1914. This era was distinguished by the most extraordinary concatenation of scientific and technical advances, the synergy of which produced bold and imaginative innovations resulting in profound socioeconomic impacts.
The Hyperloop: A 200-year history of hype and failure

2 months ago | popsci.com | Vaclav Smil

William Heath’s satirical 1829 colored etching was in reaction to a less ambitious, but still impossible, project of using a vacuum tube technique to move people between London and Edinburgh. Source: William Heath, A Futuristic Vision (etching) (London: Thos. McLean, ca. May 1829). Credit: Wellcome Library no. 37252i. Reprinted under Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 license.
The Hyperloop: A 200-Year History of Hype and Failure

2 months ago | principia-scientific.com | Vaclav Smil

Written by Vaclav Smil on January 29, 2025. Posted in Current News Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Alpha is another overhyped venture, recycling 200-year-old dreams and exaggerated claims of innovationOn August 12, 2013, Elon Musk, at that time the chairman of Tesla, released his Hyperloop Alpha paper.
20 Self Help Books To Kick Off 2025

Jan 7, 2025 | countryandtownhouse.com | Mikaela Loach |Vaclav Smil |Erika Howsare |Dan Saladino

New year, new you? We know the feeling. But did you know that, of the 17 percent of Brits that made a New Year’s resolution at the start of 2023, less than half kept their promises? If your 2025 resolutions are feeling a little wishy-washy, it might be time to pick up a self help book for some actionable advice. Here are our top picks as January unfolds. Best Self Help Books 2025Best For: Climate ActionLooking to help not only yourself but the planet in 2025? Us too (always).
Humans Will Continue to Live in an Age of Incredible Food Waste

Dec 12, 2024 | technewstube.com | Vaclav Smil

Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Humans Will Continue to Live in an Age of Incredible Food Waste

Dec 12, 2024 | wired.com | Vaclav Smil

Let me start with the following principle: “Energy is the only universal currency: One of its many forms must be transformed to get anything done.” Economies are just intricate systems set up to do those transformations, and all economically significant energy conversions have (often highly undesirable) environmental impacts.
Our May Author of the Month: VACLAV SMIL

Dec 6, 2024 | mcnallyrobinson.com | Vaclav Smil

How the World Really Works Hardcover $39.99Reader Reward Price: $35.99 Science / Philosophy & Social AspectsMathematics / Probability & StatisticsPolitical Science / Public Policy / Science & Technology PolicyINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"A new masterpiece from one of my favorite authors...
Extracto de la nueva obra de Vaclav Smil: "No hemos avanzado lo más mínimo en el objetivo de la descarbonización mundial absoluta"

Dec 3, 2024 | elmundo.es | Vaclav Smil

Desde que el mundo empezó a centrarse en la necesidad de poner fin a la quema de combustibles fósiles no hemos avanzado lo más mínimo en el objetivo de la descarbonización mundial absoluta.
No, no estamos cerca del objetivo de la descarbonización mundial absoluta

Nov 11, 2024 | elpais.com | Vaclav Smil

Desde que el mundo empezó a centrarse en la necesidad de poner fin a la quema de combustibles fósiles no hemos avanzado lo más mínimo en el objetivo de la descarbonización mundial absoluta.