Science – Exploiting Change

The Doctrine of Friction: Power Grids and the Illusion of Optimization

Richard Martin September 30, 2025 No Comments

Modern grids now run on software as much as steel. Virtual inertia and digital controls make them efficient but also fragile. History shows what happens when systems are tuned too tightly: supply chains snap and reactors fail. The military mindset offers a clear lesson: assume friction, assume failure, and build resilience first.

The Hidden Physics of Grid Stability: Why Inertia Still Matters

Richard Martin September 29, 2025 No Comments

Wind and solar can deliver megawatts, but not stability. What keeps the grid alive is synchronous inertia — the spinning mass of big generators that resists shocks and buys time when things go wrong. As renewables grow, inertia shrinks, and grids from Australia to the UK are paying to buy it back. The future is not 100% renewables or 100% fossil, but a hybrid grid anchored by physics and balanced by storage and renewables.

Denmark and the Myth of 100% Renewables

Richard Martin September 28, 2025 No Comments

Denmark often makes headlines for running on 100% renewables, but the reality is more complex. Critics highlight its reliance on imported fossil and nuclear power, while advocates tout it as a model for renewable success. However, Denmark’s energy system is intricately linked to the larger European grid, making it a unique case study. This article explores how Denmark’s experience reveals the importance of integration over self-sufficiency in the renewable energy transition. Discover why the true challenge lies in maintaining stability and resilience across continental-scale grids as we embrace non-synchronous generation.

Investment Flows vs. Energy Realities

Richard Martin September 21, 2025 No Comments

Billions are flowing into wind and solar, but dollars don’t equal delivered energy. A dollar in fossil fuels, nuclear, or hydro buys dense, reliable power. A dollar in wind or solar buys intermittent output that needs backup, storage, and land. The real metric isn’t money spent, it’s energy delivered.

Visually striking representation of a futuristic and dynamic landscape, embodying themes of strategic vision, proactive risk management, and the balance between uncertainty and opportunity.

Too Soon to Tell: On the Premature Concern Over LLMs and the Mind

Richard Martin July 22, 2025 No Comments

In recent weeks, concerns have surged that tools like ChatGPT may be dulling our minds and eroding critical thought. A new MIT study claims that using large language models (LLMs) correlates with reduced brain activity and impaired recall. However, these conclusions are extremely premature, based on a small sample and limited methodology. History shows us that technology often inspires anxiety, from the fears surrounding television to the written word itself. As we navigate this new landscape, it’s crucial to approach these changes with inquiry rather than alarmism. The story of LLMs and the mind is just beginning—let’s explore it together.

Words Like Bullets

Richard Martin December 6, 2015 No Comments

We seem to live in an era when words are more like bullets—a way to injure and defeat others, to get one’s own way—than a way to communicate in a genuine manner, seeking understanding, insight, and mutual respect.

Emotion Versus Reason

Richard Martin November 7, 2014 1 Comment

Every once in a while we’re faced with highly emotional reactions to risky situations. The “lone wolf” attacks perpetrated in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ottawa on Canadian state institutions (i.e., soldiers and Parliament) last week fall into this category, as does the Ebola outbreak in western Africa. Yet, if you watch the news and read newspapers, you’d think we’re under attack!

Brilliant Article by Steven Pinker in the New Republic on Why Science Isn’t the Enemy

Richard Martin September 23, 2013 No Comments

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114127/science-not-enemy-humanities

Cool Headedness about Global Warming

Richard Martin September 3, 2010 No Comments

Every once in a while I feel like ranting. This is one of those times. The object of my censure? Global warming.

Trend or Bandwagon?

Richard Martin February 1, 2007 No Comments

As reported in the Globe and Mail (January 17th, 2007), “Instead of leaving in 2008, (British Petroleum CEO) Lord Browne found himself embroiled in what is tantamount to a boardroom putsch and is leaving the company – which he helped turn around – six months from now instead of the intended farewell in 18 months.

The Doctrine of Friction: Power Grids and the Illusion of Optimization

The Hidden Physics of Grid Stability: Why Inertia Still Matters

Denmark and the Myth of 100% Renewables

Investment Flows vs. Energy Realities

Too Soon to Tell: On the Premature Concern Over LLMs and the Mind

Words Like Bullets

Emotion Versus Reason

Brilliant Article by Steven Pinker in the New Republic on Why Science Isn’t the Enemy

Cool Headedness about Global Warming

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