On This Date

On January 6, 1838, Samuel Morse completed the first successful test of his electrical telegraph, which revolutionized communications, and had profound effects throughout the economy.

It's interesting to reflect on how far communications technologies have improved since then. Before the nineteenth century was over, we had telephones; within a century after that, we had satellite communications and the internet. This should give us some reason for cautious optimism that we similar improvements in energy technologies over the next 50 years or so could minimize carbon emissions to stabilize the climate.