Or maybe not. The issue I have with this essay is the presumption that the universe owes us discoveries in physics that we can create a technology around to produce energy. You recognize this in other essays, but seem to lose your bearing in this one?

The point of your essay I would have strengthened isn't that technological innovation has slowed down, but begs the question, have we learned all we will ever know about basic energy suitable for human use?

I'll argue we have. Short of some discovery that we're living in a Matrix, apples will always fall at the same rate and water boil. Frederick Bott has repeated this over and over. Almost all our energy comes from the sun. Either stored or captured. The argument that biofuels or ethanol will replace fossil fuels short-circuits the scientific mind.

In short, most humans can't handle the truth. All the Kings Horses and All The Kings Men won't get an energy surplus back again.