Faster, Please! (Substack)

⚡ War Reminds Us of Civilization’s True Currency

The ongoing Middle East conflict is driving a sharp rise in global energy prices, underscoring Vaclav Smil’s view that energy functions as civilization’s universal currency. Higher gasoline costs in the United States illustrate the immediate market impact, while the war’s ripple effects extend to natural‑gas‑dependent industries. One such industry is the Haber‑Bosch process, which relies on natural gas to produce ammonia for fertilizers that sustain roughly half of worldwide food production. Disruptions to fossil‑fuel supplies therefore threaten both energy markets and food security.