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The Industrial Revolutions, Inventions, and Impact on the Environment
Throughout this time period, the Industrial Revolution took Britain and the United States by storm. All of the inventions and creations listed here exemplify this new era and the changes it produced as a means of mass production and advancement. -
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Habitat Destruction
In order to make more room for factories and other means of production, urban and rural areas were destroyed. Alongside pollution and the burning of coal, the environment took a direct hit. -
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Rapid Growth of Extraction
While industrialization increased, so did the desire for laborers, coal, oil, and natural gas. This led to a sharp increase in extraction that severely impacted the environment. -
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Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are natural, non-renewable energy sources, and these fuels are burned to produce heat, electricity, and to power machinery. However, their use releases greenhouse gases which contribute significantly to climate change and other environmental problems. The Industrial Revolution exploited these, which led to an explosion of greenhouse gasses being released. -
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Increased Pollution
The Industrial Revolution was powered by burning coal, thus, large industrial cities, such as London, pumped vast quantities of pollution into the atmosphere. Pollution began to rise dramatically in 1760, setting the stage for a new environmental problem that would last for centuries. -
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Resource Depletion
The Industrial Revolution was incredibly dependent upon raw materials, urban areas, and fossil fuels. The increased use of these things led to a depletion of resources that would be needed for other functions. -
The First Steam Engine
Steam engines drastically changed the world at the time and became a cornerstone for the Industrial Revolution. The first creation of a steam engine was in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen, and it was used to power the machines used to pump water out of mine shafts. This prototype would later be improved, but nonetheless, it provided power that would run the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. -
The Spinning Jenny
Britain industrialized before the United States, beginning in 1764 with the invention of the spinning jenny. This creation revolutionized the textile industry, allowing for the efficiency of yarn production to be significantly improved. -
The Improved Steam Engine
Newcomen's steam engine was modified in the 1760's by James Watt who added a separate water condenser which made it more effective. The modification allowed the engine to run faster and use less fuel. This steam engine provided an efficient form of power that could be used for production, transportation, and the creation of factories. -
The Textile Mill
The beginning of industrialization in the United States is usually credited to the opening of a textile mill in Rhode Island. Due to the opening of this textile mill, its creator, Samuel Slater, was able to build other cotton mills that gave him the name, "Father of the American Industrial Revolution" -
The Cotton Gin
The cotton gin is one of the first major milestones for the Industrial Revolution in the United Sates. It was created in Georgia with the intent to modernize farming practices. It was believed that by making the process more efficient by separating the cotton fibers from the seeds, there would be a significant increase in production. -
The Luddites Attack
One of the first forms of protests against the introduction of new technology given by the Industrial Revolution was from the Luddites. The Luddites feared that with the introduction of new machinery, there wouldn't be much need for skilled workers. They attacked factories in different areas of Britain from 1811 to around 1816. -
The First Long-Distant Message
Samuel Morse delivered the first long-distance message in 1844, using the invention of the telegraph. His famous "What hath God wrought?" speech represented the new form of communication from long distances, thus, more connections in trade and production. -
The Transcontinental Railroad
The transcontinental railroad was constructed from 1864 to 1869 in order to connect the East Coast to the West Coast. This type of transportation allowed for a faster and cheaper means of exporting and importing goods, which led to a boom in industrial production and economic growth. -
The Second Industrial Revolution
The second Industrial Revolution begins in 1870 and is characterized by rapid expansion of new technologies such as the telephone, railroads, and electrical power. -
The First Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone in 1876 which changed the way people communicated forever. -
The Light Bulb
Thomas Edison created the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1879. Others predated Edison's creation, such as when Humphry Davy invented the first electric light in 1802, however, his version of the light bulb was not practical or long-lasting. With Edison's creation, factories were able to stay open after dark. -
Bankside Power Station
The Bankside Power Station was built in 1891, and it was the first of its kind to provide power to all of Central London. This meant powering factories more efficiently. -
The First Automobile
Karl Benz created the first automobile, called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. It was the first car put into production and was powered by a petroleum-fueled four-stroke internal combustion engine. This, alongside the transcontinental railroad, created a new form of transportation. -
Model T and the Assembly Line
Henry Ford is most well-known for his creation of the Model T; an affordable, simple to operate, and durable automobile. However, his assembly line as a means of production popularized the creation, as this new form of production revolutionized mass production techniques. -
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Current Examples of the Industrial Revolution's Impact on the Environment
Following the inventions of the Industrial Revolution, negative effects took place that gravely harmed the environment and the population. -
Rising Sea Levels
As the Arctic sea ice melts due to increasing global temperatures, sea levels rise. This poses a threat to islands, low-lying areas, and ecosystems that run a risk of being destroyed. This includes the displacement of populations, both human and non-human, such as animals. -
Extreme Weather
Climate change causes weather that is uncommon to certain areas. This includes severe storms, hurricanes, floods, fires, and droughts. This can be damaging for places that do not typically experience this type of weather, possibly leading to the displacement of populations and harm to nature and infrastructure. -
Arctic Sea Ice
Arctic ice serves as a global temperature regulator, as its surface reflects sunlight back into space. This process is essential for ensuring global temperatures are stable. The Arctic region as a whole produces cold air masses that influence wind patterns and regulate ocean currents; also keeping global temperatures at bay. However, this ice is melting away due to increasing temperatures brought on by climate change. Without this ice, there will be a lack of regulating global temperatures. -
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Anchoring Event: AI
Knowing the innovations that constituted the Industrial Revolution, the negative effects it brought, and the effects of climate change that we see today, we must now look at a current example of how climate change is being affected by technological innovation: AI. -
The Cost of AI on the Environment: Water Use
AI models are built upon data centers that use powerful computers to operate. These computers, and data centers as a whole, overheat. To avoid overheating, evaporative cooling is used, which consumes water - a vital source. -
The Birth of AI
The birth of AI as field of study was introduced in 1956 at the Dartmouth Conference. This was when the term "Artificial Intelligence" was coined. -
ChatGPT
ChatGPT was released in June of 2018, and immediately attracted the general population. The website went viral, and as a result, the craze of using AI began. -
The Cost of AI on the Environment: Water Cont.
Scientists argue that if we continue to use AI in the way we are today, droughts, which are already becoming more prevalent, will reach a new high.