What powers our planet and our lives?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

This question asks about the primary source of power for our planet and our lives.
Option 1: Radiant energy from the Sun. This is the main energy source driving Earth's climate, weather, and supporting life through photosynthesis; it powers virtually all ecological and atmospheric processes, and ultimately our daily activities through sunlight and solar energy.
Option 2: Shorter wavelengths of gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet. While these rays exist, they are not the primary energy driver for Earth's systems. They are energetic forms of radiation that can be harmful at high exposure, and they do not constitute the sustained energy input that powers weather, climate, or biology.
Option 3: Utilities and oil companies. These are human institutions that distribute and supply energy, but they do not provide the fundamental source of power for the planet. They rely on various energy sources (including solar, fossil fuels, etc.), not themselves the planetary energy source.
Option 4: Energy derived from inside Earth. Geothermal energy is real and important in some contexts, but it accounts for a relatively small portion of the planet’s overall energy budget compared to solar input, so it is not the primary driver of life and planetary processes overall.

What powers our planet and our lives?

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