Category: Nathan Myhrvold

Last month two widely-known scientists - one of them a zillionaire who gets in the news all the time for many reasons - published a study saying in effect that the US Department of Energy is, if not lying to us, is getting something dreadfully wrong. All the talk about natural gas being a "bridge" to a low-carbon economy is near-delusional. It may have other benefits but as for climate: forget it for helping out for at least 100 years.

The paper evaded the tracker's notice when fresh. But thanks to a piece encountered while looking for something else we have for discussion today a fine example of a the gorilla-in-the-room syndrome. It causes reporters and editors to pull blinkers over their eyes as easily as it does politicians. Important matters can be so big nobody wants to talk about them. It's like a boat owner busily re-caulking all...