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The article reports on solar energy technologies. Among the natural processes driven by the solar energy are warmth, light, clean air and water, and organic materials. Thus, human's use of solar energy to reduce his dependence on fossil fuels, as well as an alternative energy supply for the long term is suggested. Furthermore, it discussed the other possible energy resources aside from natural gas and petroleum that is helpful in case of shortage in energy supply including controlled thermonuclear fusion, coal, and nuclear fission.

The article reports on nuclear power growth and energy waste in the United States as projected by the Energy Research and Development Administration(ERDA). It examines the intensive electrification scenarios on which ERDA projections on U. S. nuclear power growth are based revealing that the high projection from ERDA of the future electric energy growth pushes the country toward plutonium economy. It states that the use of electric resistance heating as a major industrial process heat source is just one of the wasteful and uneconomic use of electricity resulted from the shift toward all electric economy. INSET: Energy Wastes in the COAT Scenario.

The article presents an assessment of the plutonium recycling economy. Fission researches show that there is an abundant source of uranium-238 which can be use for the process but despite of the potential of plutonium economy to be an inexhaustible energy resource, risks, particularly its use in the development of nuclear weapons should still be considered. It suggests considering first an alternative fission power development such as a solar-based non-fission power or fusion energy before proceeding with the plutonium recycling economy while an appropriate assessment of alternatives is encourage before pursuing a large scale commercial plutonium recycling.

The article illustrates the notion that fuel conservation can radically change the energy supply situation. Energy consumption associated with any activity or process is obtained by multiplying the demand for a product and the specific energy. A concept which illustrates how inefficient most energy consuming processes are and which can be used to point up the possibilities for efficiency improvements need to be introduced. Two examples are illustrated to show the efficiency concepts commonly used are entirely inadequate indicators of the potential for fuel savings. The principal results of research carried out for the Energy Policy Project of the Ford Foundation and an energy conservation study by the American Physical Society are highlighted.

The article presents a discussion of the prospects for photosynthetic energy. Photosynthesis is a solar conversion process which offers a renewable resource in convenient forms to replace diminishing supplies of oil and gas. It is possible to keep adverse environmental impacts to relatively low levels with a properly designed photosynthetic conversion system. Moreover, plant biomass can be used as fuel in several different forms. It is said that photosynthetic energy for developing nations should be prioritized for research and development.

The article explores some of the basic characteristics of alternative solar conversion systems in order to demonstrate the inherent relative promise and limitations of different systems. Solar energy supplies only about 4% of the energy consumed in the U.S. The sun's use in photosynthesis and in the evaporation of seawater to provide rain and the immensity of the solar energy resource are offered. The article also discusses the design of solar storage systems, the possibility of low cost space heating, and the approaches to wind power.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Thorium Cycles and Proliferation," by Frank von Hippel and Robert H. Williams published in the February 1979 issue of the periodical.

The article addresses the problem that the U.S. faces over its energy system and discusses the changes in energy policy needed to solve the problem. The U.S. is facing a crisis in energy supplies with the decline in the domestic production of oil and gas and an increase in world price oil. It suggests that efforts should be made towards saving energy by various means including, the reduction of fuel requirements for space heating by plugging house leaks, the cutting on gasoline consumption by tripling the fuel economy of automobiles and the generation of electricity with only half the fuel required by venturing into the advantages of industrial cogeneration.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Energy: No Quick Fix for a Permanent Crisis," by Zalmay Khalilzad and Cheryl Benard in the December 1980 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Flower Power: Prospects for Photosynthetic Energy" in the May 1976 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Ultimate Catastrophe," by H. C. Dudley in the November 1975 issue.