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physics - Is it possible for so many technologies to cease working?




In the show Revolution, the world suffers a global blackout. However, the extent of this catastrophe goes far beyond a collapse of electrical grids. Any device that uses electricity stopped functioning (e.g. mobile battery-powered devices). Internal combustion engines stopped working. Jet turbines stopped working. Post-blackout, batteries didn't work. A character describes this event as "physics went insane".


My question is, is this possible? I understand an electro-magnetic pulse could disable existing electronics, but newly-manufactured ones would work fine. Is there some technology or device that could theoretically disable so many varied pieces of technology?



Answer



No. There is no known physical technology currently capable of suppressing an electromagnetic field across the entire planet without suppressing the planet's protective magnetosphere. The operative word in this case is KNOWN technologies or electromagnetic phenomena.


Revolution Earth presupposes all forms of stored energy are impossible. Mechanical energy appears to be the law of the land. Water mills, wind mills may still work for mechanical efforts, but they do not generate electricity.


There is currently nothing currently known in science that can suppress:




  • Chemical energy: the ability to convert chemical energy to electrical energy for example does not happen on Revolution Earth. Technologies like chemical batteries do not work at all.





  • Electrical energy: No form of electrical energy is available to the average persons of Revolution Earth. You can neither create electricity, nor convert any kind of physical effort INTO electricity. Since the primary usable energy format for the modern world is electricity, this would be a catastrophic event.




  • Nuclear energy: Since Revolution Earth implies there is no electricity at all, this implies that nuclear reactors have also stopped working. Were there catastrophic meltdowns across the planet? I don't suppose nuclear power plants work well without electricity so we will have to wait to see how the show handles this potential catastrophic event.




The most curious thing about Revolution Earth, is whatever is suppressing the ability to generate electromagnetic fields and thus electrical energy, does not appear to affect living things like humans who also generate an electrical field within our brains and nervous systems.


Now the ultimate premise of the show indicates the possibility of a device or technology that allows electrical power to exist. This indicates a technological device or a technological level so far beyond ours as to resemble magic. Perhaps the premise of the show indicates alien intelligence or a new scientific breakthrough being leveraged and used for the domination of the human species.



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