Nuclear Fusion, a reality?

[Bulletinmybrain]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7972865.stm

It seems like a California-based science and research institute have pushed the concept in a way that make make nuclear fusion a reliable energy source.

In a nutshell, they are using multiple GIANT FUCKING LASERS directed at a fuel pellet mix.. The lasers will imitate the pressure of the core(?) of a star..

While the lasers may only be used every 2-3 hours, work overseas is being done to make the lasers more reliable over extended periods, and even using robots to streamline the process.

We may not have to worry about fossil fuels sooner then you think..

EDIT: This is coming from the UK-Based company BBC.. NO IT IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE.

 

[cptjack42]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

 

[keyper159]

Now we need to build the nuclear reactors as close as we can to people homes.
Cookies for the first one to get the game reference.

 

[Lukeje]

April Fool?

Edit: Apparently not; the time-stamp is for yesterday.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Seriously now, interesting article...as long as it's not an April fools joke...I'm not overly paranoid at all...

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

The lasers use quite a bit of power.. In theory it would be a retarded idea to use a 500-trillion watt laser at anything because it is a 500-TRILLION WATT LASER.. 192 is just absurd..

That said, the scientists are expecting that the power returned will be 3-10 times as much as what the laser uses to start the reaction.

 

[Lukeje]

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Nuclear fission.

 

[Baneat]

I thought bombs used fission to begin with, but they now use fusion. It's difficult to control and get a consistent energy source from, making it perfect for killing people, not so perfect for consumer energy.

 

[Avatar Roku]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

Well, Fission has advanced to the point that it can run on it's own waste, so the only thing holding it back is its bad reputation after Chernobyl and Three-mile Island.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Nuclear fission.

In an atom bomb, yes you're right, but in hydrogen bombs, the fission reaction is used to power a fusion reaction.

 

[space_oddity]

I was under the impression that we just passed the break-even point with Nuclear Fusion (we expend as much energy as we generate), so if this is true its sounds pretty promising.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

Well, Fission has advanced to the point that it can run on it's own waste, so the only thing holding it back is its bad reputation after Chernobyl and Three-mile Island.

Though, Fuel for nuclear fission is not as much in heavy supply as hydrogen, no?

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Nuclear fission.

Nice as it is to have one of the mods answer for me...

Fission used to start a fusion reaction.

 

[Lukeje]

I thought bombs used fission to begin with, but they now use fusion. It's difficult to control and get a consistent energy source from, making it perfect for killing people, not so perfect for consumer energy.

They all primarily use fission, and are 'boosted' by fusion.

Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements that cause the physics package of a nuclear weapon to detonate. There are three basic design types. In all three, the explosive energy is derived primarily from nuclear fission, not fusion.

Source [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_bomb].

 

[Avatar Roku]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

Well, Fission has advanced to the point that it can run on it's own waste, so the only thing holding it back is its bad reputation after Chernobyl and Three-mile Island.

Though, Fuel for nuclear fission is not as much in heavy supply as hydrogen, no?

True, but I don't think Fusion can sustain itself to the level that Fission can.

 

[Baneat]

I thought bombs used fission to begin with, but they now use fusion. It's difficult to control and get a consistent energy source from, making it perfect for killing people, not so perfect for consumer energy.

They all primarily use fission, and are 'boosted' by fusion.

Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements that cause the physics package of a nuclear weapon to detonate. There are three basic design types. In all three, the explosive energy is derived primarily from nuclear fission, not fusion.

Source [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_bomb].

Not saying I don't believe you. All i'm saying is that wikipedia is the worst place to citate a source from in a discussion.

 

[Lukeje]

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Nuclear fission.

In an atom bomb, yes you're right, but in hydrogen bombs, the fission reaction is used to power a fusion reaction.

Nice as it is to have one of the mods answer for me...

Fission used to start a fusion reaction.

Yes, but they work because of the fission. I'm not aware of a purely 'fusion-based' bomb as of yet.

And off-topic, is it a little scary how much the members of The Escapist seem to know about nuclear weaponry?

Edit:

Not saying I don't believe you. All i'm saying is that wikipedia is the worst place to citate a source from in a discussion.

Feel free to follow the citated articles if you want to learn about it in more depth.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

That's badass...

Nuclear fuels are a lot more efficient, though. If it weren't for all that waste...

Well, Fission has advanced to the point that it can run on it's own waste, so the only thing holding it back is its bad reputation after Chernobyl and Three-mile Island.

Though, Fuel for nuclear fission is not as much in heavy supply as hydrogen, no?

True, but I don't think Fusion can sustain itself to the level that Fission can.

Of course not, yet at least.

The whole process is still in the experimental phase.. Meaning we won't see nuclear fusion reactors being commonplace for a decade or two..

Nuclear fusion's already a reality, how do you think all those bombs work?

Nuclear fission.

In an atom bomb, yes you're right, but in hydrogen bombs, the fission reaction is used to power a fusion reaction.

Yes, but they work because of the fission. I'm not aware of a purely 'fusion-based' bomb as of yet.

And off-topic, is it a little scary how much the members of The Escapist seem to know about nuclear weaponry?

We are smart asses?

Sounds good. All they have to do now is making more energy with that device than it consumes.

While this is only a hypothesis from the scientists, they believe that the power kickbacks will be 3-10 times as much as what will be used to start..

Also: Am I the only one who wants to play with the laser.. Maybe if I ask nice enough.. We could stop pollution, funnel the energy into a giant laser!

 

[Argentavis]

Sounds good. All they have to do now is making more energy with that device than it consumes.

 

[Insomniaku]

I CAN HAS NUCLEIC VEGETO/GOGETA?