After the global revolution and prior to the great destruction much of the internet was preserved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Sounds and visions from planet Earth were cherished on long excursions aboard Laurasia. Especially as a sleep aid, but also for entertainment. This - is Testament.
Museum
Selections of art taken from Chris Lehrer's Lyceum under the heading: Window to the Past.
Listen to Soma FM streaming radio, a favorite of the space station Laurasia since the global revolution. You may or may not have to download the free Winamp or Real audio player.
Arabic:(taqa, energy, reflecting its global impact)
English:History of Energy
Energy kindles the spark of progress, warming or wounding the world. - Energy scholar, c. 1900 CE (adapted from industrial-era writings)
From the dawn of humanity to 2025 CE, energy has driven human progress, powering societies from fire to fusion. Early humans harnessed fire for survival, while water mills (3rd century BCE) mechanized work. The Industrial Revolution (1760 CE) unleashed coal and steam, producing 10 million tons annually by 1850. Oil and electricity (1900 CE) fueled 50 million vehicles by 1980, per industry data. Renewables, like solar, reached about 10% of global power by 2025, per IEA. Energy trade, worth $2 trillion, connected economies. Archaeological finds, like Roman mills and oil rigs, reflect progress. Secular innovation and religious stewardship, like Islamic environmentalism, shaped energy ethics. This arc of energy, balancing growth and impact, transformed civilizations, forging a connected world amid environmental and ethical challenges.
Fueling Progress
Energy powered societies, reshaping economies and environments.
Pillars of Energy
Fire mastery.
Water mills (C. 3rd century BCE).
Coal and steam (C. 1760 CE).
Oil and electricity (C. 1900 CE).
Renewables (10% by 2025).
Energy trade ($2 trillion).
Enduring Impact
Energy drives civilization’s connectivity.
From the dawn of humanity to 500 CE, ancient energy sources powered early societies. Fire, controlled in Africa, enabled cooking and warmth, supporting 1 million people, per archaeological estimates. Water mills (3rd century BCE), like Greek designs, ground grain for 50 million, as seen in Roman aqueducts. Wind sails (1000 BCE) propelled trade ships, moving $50 million in goods. Polytheistic rituals, like Egyptian fire ceremonies, tied energy to spirituality. Archaeological finds, like hearths in Zhoukoudian, show fire’s role. Biomass, like wood, fueled settlements, with 100 million tons burned annually. Ancient energy enhanced survival and trade, fostering early civilizations despite limited sources, laying foundations for mechanical advancements.
Early Fuels
Fire and mills powered ancient societies.
Ancient Milestones
Fire control.
Water mills (C. 3rd century BCE).
Wind sails (C. 1000 BCE).
Biomass burning (100 million tons).
Spiritual energy rituals.
Trade via energy ($50 million).
Archaeological Evidence
Zhoukoudian hearths and Roman mills show energy use.
Lasting Legacy
Ancient energy shaped early survival.
From 500–1500 CE, medieval energy advanced societies. Windmills (1100 CE), with 10,000 across Europe by 1300, powered milling, per Domesday records. Chinese waterwheels (800 CE) irrigated crops for 60 million, as seen in Song texts. Charcoal, producing 50 million tons annually, fueled iron forges, supporting trade worth $1 billion via the Silk Road. Islamic and Christian stewardship, like monastery eco-practices, shaped energy use. Archaeological finds, like Persian windmill ruins, reflect ingenuity. Gunpowder (800 CE) introduced explosive energy, transforming warfare. Medieval energy boosted agriculture and trade, bridging ancient and industrial eras despite resource constraints, fostering sustainable practices and global exchange.
Medieval Power
Wind and water energized medieval progress.
Medieval Milestones
Windmills (10,000 by 1300).
Chinese waterwheels (C. 800 CE).
Charcoal forges (50 million tons).
Gunpowder energy (C. 800 CE).
Silk Road trade ($1 billion).
Religious eco-stewardship.
Archaeological Insights
Persian windmills show medieval innovation.
Lasting Legacy
Medieval energy bridged to industry.
From 1500–1900 CE, the Industrial Revolution transformed energy. Coal-powered steam engines (1775 CE), like Watt’s, produced 10 million tons annually by 1850, driving 1 million looms, per British records. Railways (1830 CE) spanned 100,000 miles, burning 50 million tons of coal. Early oil wells (1859 CE) extracted 1 million barrels by 1880, per U.S. data. Energy trade, worth $500 million, fueled economies. Christian reform movements addressed coal’s pollution, shaping ethics. Archaeological finds, like Manchester’s boiler rooms, show scale. Coal and steam urbanized societies, with about 2 million in London by 1850, but caused environmental harm, setting the stage for oil and electrical advancements.
Industrial Surge
Coal and steam powered industrial growth.
Industrial Milestones
Steam engines (C. 1775 CE).
Railways (100,000 miles).
Early oil wells (C. 1859 CE).
Coal production (10 million tons).
Energy trade ($500 million).
Pollution reform movements.
Archaeological Evidence
Manchester boilers reflect industrial energy.
Lasting Impact
Industrial energy reshaped economies.
From 1900–2000 CE, oil and electricity revolutionized energy. Edison’s power grid (1882 CE) lit 1 billion bulbs by 2000. Oil fueled 50 million vehicles annually by 1980, per industry data, with global production at 80 million barrels daily. Nuclear energy (1951 CE) powered roughly 400 reactors by 2000, per IAEA. Energy trade hit $1 trillion, per WTO. Secular innovation and religious ethics, like Buddhist environmentalism, shaped energy debates. Archaeological finds, like Texas oil rigs, show scale. Electricity and oil transformed industries and mobility, but pollution sparked nearly 10,000 environmental laws, per UN data. This era connected societies, laying foundations for renewables despite ecological challenges.
Electrified World
Oil and electricity transformed connectivity.
Modern Milestones
Power grid (C. 1882 CE).
Oil vehicles (50 million).
Nuclear reactors (~400 by 2000).
Energy trade ($1 trillion).
Environmental laws (10,000).
Religious eco-ethics.
Archaeological Insights
Texas rigs show energy scale.
Lasting Impact
Oil and electricity shaped modernity.
From 2000–2025 CE, renewables reshaped energy. Solar and wind reached about 10% of global power, per IEA, with $500 billion invested annually. Fusion experiments, like ITER (2025 CE), aimed for clean energy, producing 500 MW test outputs. Energy trade hit $2 trillion, per WTO. Secular policies and religious stewardship, like Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (2015 CE), drove sustainability. Digital records, like wind farm data, and artifacts, like solar panels, reflect progress. Renewables powered 1 billion homes, but 2 billion lacked access, per UN. This era transformed energy, fostering sustainability while navigating access and environmental challenges in a connected world.
Sustainable Future
Renewables redefined energy and ethics.
Modern Milestones
Solar/wind power (10% by 2025).
Fusion experiments (2025 CE).
Energy trade ($2 trillion).
Laudato Si’ (2015 CE).
Renewable investments ($500 billion).
Energy access gaps (2 billion).
Evidence of Progress
Solar panels and wind farms show sustainability.
Lasting Legacy
Renewables shape a connected future.
Summary: Energy’s evolution drove progress but deepened inequalities, with access gaps and pollution marginalizing billions, embedding systemic environmental divides.
Summary: Energy’s arc balanced innovation with challenges, powering societies through fire to renewables, though disparities persisted alongside economic and ecological gains.
Summary: Energy established order, preserving values through innovation and stewardship, reflecting humanity’s pursuit of progress and sustainable unity.
Lyceum
Welcome to Space Station Laurasia! All passengers and crew members receive a personal device called a Lyceum, which serves as a journal to record and share information with family and friends via neutrionic mobile or desktop devices back on Earth’s surface. This is the Lyceum of Raymond Sheen.
Animations: Dragonset, Matters of Grave Concern, The Pillars of Barad-Dur, Heart of Stone, Golden Leaves, Gravity, and Dragons in Moonlight, by Steven David Bennett
Quo Vadis? [Latin] - Where Are You Going?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
