Renowned professor Michael B. McElroy leads a comprehensive examination of energy, including its history, use in the world today, and environmental consequences. Whether discussing the “oil shocks” of the 1970s, the current reliance on imported oil, or the growing buildup of carbon dioxide in the planet’s atmosphere, it is clear that energy represents one of the world’s most daunting challenges. In these informed, easy-to-follow lectures, Professor McElroy imparts a clear understanding of energy—in all its applications—and offers a vision for a clean, safe, and sustainable future.
Lecture 1 A Short History of the Earth
Lecture 2 What Is Energy?
Lecture 3 The Sun
Lecture 4 Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil (Part I)
Lecture 5 Oil (Part II) and Natural Gas
Lecture 6 Water and Wind Power
Lecture 7 The Nature and History of Nuclear Power
Lecture 8 Steam and the Industrial Revolution
Lecture 9 Electricity
Lecture 10 The Internal Combustion Engine
Lecture 11 How We Use Energy Today
Lecture 12 The Climate Challenge
Lecture 13 Options for a Low-Carbon Energy Economy: Corn, Sugar Cane, and Other Biofuels
Lecture 14 Vision for a Sustainable Energy Future