Earth's energy rapidly depleted
Bricker suggests solar cells for energy
The development of solar cells as a solution to an energy crisis was suggested by a KU professor at a Thursday seminar in conjunction with Earth Week, April 20-28.
Clark Bricker, professor of chemistry, said that if biologists could develop a mutant with a 10 per cent efficiency to capture the sun's energy, "we could get enough energy from the Painted Desert in one day for the entire United States."
To illustrate the degree of crisis, Bricker used the letter "Q" to describe a large unit of
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1970
energy equal to 38 billion tons of coal. He said from 10,000 BC to 1850 AD the world used $ \frac{1}{2} $ Q of energy per century, from 1850-1950 the world used 4Q of energy and in 1969 the United States alone used .0065 Q of energy. The rate of energy is going up 4 or 5 per cent annually, he said.
Bricker estimated that the total Q potential of energy in oil, gas, coal, and oil shale was between 58-94Q. He compared that figure with an estimated 85Q of energy that would be needed by the year 2500.
town down the river suffers," he said.
The main problem in finding a solution, Bricker said, was that there are no consumers of energy, only converters. "Whatever is dumped from Lawrence into the Kaw river, the next
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cost, Bricker said. He also said there was a danger in the cement casket containing nuclear waste springing a leak.
One possible solution, nuclear energy, is prohibitive because of
"You won't need a moon to see where the ocean is, it will be radiated," he said.
Union clean-up needs helpers
Five days after Monday night's $2 million Kansas Union fire, cleanup operations are in full swing with a major part being done by KU students.
Kent Longnecker, Mission senior and Student Union Activities president, said Thursday further student help is invited.
Two student shifts are being run daily—the first from 9-12 am. and the second from 1-4 p.m.,
Longencker said. He said that any interested student should call him at 842-6498 or 843-4811. Fred Meier, St. Louis senior, is also helping co-ordinate cleanup efforts and said students may call him at 842-4720.
Only between 30 and 40 workers to each shift will be accepted, Longeneker said.
Workmen are currently building temporary walls in the main
lobby to form a hallway leading from the north entrance on the east side to the downstairs and new addition areas. The information counter and check-cashing counter will re-open upon completion of the hallway.
The Hawks Nest and the Trail Room will possibly re-open today on a limited basis. Further re-openings will depend on cleanup and sanitation operations, Longenecker said.
God's Country.
In the general aviation business, we enjoy a particularly awesome privilege.
Every day, we see America on the grand scale. With shifting perspectives and changing lights, it's quite a spectacle. Never the same twice
From where we sit, for example, the small individual farms of the Great Plains sweep big and wide in a magnificent kaleidoscope of line and color.
Just beautiful.
It's quiet up here. We can't help seriously contemplating all of this land. Waving with wheat,
crammed with corn, thick with orchards and green pastures where livestock roam.
The promised land. It has fed the whole hungry world for a long, long time.Makes you wonder how we do it.How we even managed this thriving prosperous phenomenon called America.
The answer always comes out Free Enterprise.The individual taking his freedom and building what he wants of and for himself and his family. Sooner or later, everyone in America benefits from that individual effort. Morally and materially.
For 194 years, we have proved that free enterprise is no experiment. It works. Below us, we see the stunning proof—from the giant cities, small towns and back again to our generous ground that gives and gives yet never gives out.
From up here, it is impossible to be numb and indifferent. We see the one thing that remains constant. This land. This republic. This unassailable freedom. This America.
Beech Gircraft Corporation
Wichita, Kansas 67201
Photo by Tim Yurnell from THIS IS MY LAND, Random House, Inc