Planet: Critical
Planet: Critical
The Thermodynamics of Collapse | Tim Garrett
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The Thermodynamics of Collapse | Tim Garrett

What snowflakes and physics can teach us about the economy, civilisation and crisis.

According to the laws of physics, the economy can only sustain itself by growing. So how bound are we by the laws of thermodynamics?

Professor Tim Garrett, atmosphere scientist at the University of Utah, argues we’re completely bound by those laws. He has modelled how the behaviour of snowflakes and clouds can be used to predict energy consumption and GDP, bridging the gap between economic theory and the natural world.

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Tim’s research is nothing short of fascinating; this is a mind-bending hour you won’t regret. Listen to the episode here or catch it on Apple or Spotify.

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Read more of Tim’s work here.


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© 2022 Rachel Donald
Planet: Critical
Planet: Critical
Planet: Critical is the podcast for a world in crisis. We face severe climate, energy, economic and political breakdown. Journalist Rachel Donald interviews those confronting the crisis, revealing what's really going on—and what needs to be done.