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Comment by JoshTriplett | Hacker News Reader

> In reality, all power is solar power

If you're going to use that metaphor, then really, all power is nuclear power, since that's how all that solar energy is generated.

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You mean, to be more specific, that all power is nuclear fusion power. Actually, yes. When fusion reactors are available they'll cut out the middleman again -- and this middleman will be solar.

But to be fair, the sun will remain the largest fusion reactor humans can access for quite some time so solar may continue to be relevant while we are close to it.

Not quite - tidal power is purely gravitational, and doesn't rely on nuclear forces at all.

That same argument applies to the (metaphorical) claim that all power is solar, which is what I was poking fun at.

Oh, of course - I'm just playing the game too. Technically correct: the best kind of correct.

It's also not entirely true. There is energy emitted by the earth as well.

Planets composed of matter, whose heavy elements are the results of nuclear processes and subsequent supernovae.

All power is energy, except for matter which needs to be converted into energy.

Well, no... Power is the rate of energy consumption or production. The units of power are Watts = Joules / second, the unit of energy is Joules.

I was being facetious :) These generalizations aren't terribly useful. It doesn't matter if all power comes from the sun/wherever if you can't put that thing in your car and drive somewhere, or use it to make your light bulbs work.

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