The potential for nuclear fusion is pretty cool, and would solve a lot of energy problems if they can make it work. It’s purely in entry level research mode, but, of course
Scientists hail nuclear fusion breakthrough but caution that climate change remains a crisis
The U.S. Department of Energy is set to announce Tuesday that researchers have produced a nuclear fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain, an important breakthrough in the search for a clean, affordable and potentially unlimited source of energy.
According to the Financial Times, which first reported the news on Sunday, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a federal research facility in Livermore, Calif., achieved net energy gain in an experiment during the last two weeks. The lab uses a process called inertial confinement fusion, in which a pellet of hydrogen plasma is bombarded by the world’s biggest laser. The process is highly energy-intensive, but in recent experiments it produced 120% as much energy as it consumed.
Scientists expressed excitement about the development, which several countries have pursued since the 1950s and have invested billions of dollars researching.
But, this is hyper-Warmist Ben Adler writing, and no matter the subject, the Cult of Climastrology must interject itself
The theoretical benefits of fusion reactions are enormous, as they create no conventional air pollution or planet-warming carbon dioxide. And unlike traditional nuclear reactors, which split atoms through a much less powerful process known as fission, fusion does not create long-lasting radioactive waste.
“The importance of this news cannot be overstated,” Leah Stokes, an environmental policy expert at the University of California, Santa Barbara, wrote on Twitter.
Yet applying the technology at commercial scale will be more difficult than performing a laboratory experiment, experts say.
“While we don’t have details yet, this could be an important step because fusion has potential as low-carbon generation with much less radioactive pollution than from conventional nuclear energy,” Matthew McKinzie, a nuclear physicist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told Yahoo News in an email. “But we shouldn’t kid ourselves: Fusion as a source of electricity is a really, really hard problem, and it’s not yet clear how much of a breakthrough this is. One thing I am certain of is that we have to apply all the ready technology that we have today to the climate problem. We cannot wait decades for a source of power that isn’t yet proven to work.”
All your science revolves around climate apocalypse
On Monday, some scientists voiced skepticism about the announcement, suggesting that it may be overhyped by a credulous media. Peter Gleick, the climatologist who founded the Pacific Institute, noted that the cost of fusion is currently dramatically higher than clean alternatives such as wind and solar.
Sigh. Of course, if fusion does become feasible, the Warmists will probably work hard to block it, for Reasons, just like with regular nuclear energy. Oh, and how extreme-enviros look to stop solar, wind, geothermal, and dams.
” One thing I am certain of is that we have to apply all the ready technology that we have today to the climate problem.”
Said the buggy whip manufacturer.
But even if we can generate almost unlimited electricity there remains the problem of batteries and distribution.
The ultimate solution would be small enough to fit into a vehicle.
Of course, if fusion does become feasible, the Warmists will probably work hard to block it, for Reasons.
Of course, they already do this time after time. They even block geothermal in the USA, but not in Iceland. I’m even seeing commercials not for a “bipartisan wildlife restoration act”. Looks like a second layer of endangered species act. Lefties are having trouble finding new endangered species on command like they used to. so now they want common wildlife protected too (squirrels, opossums, ground hogs, skunks). Basically anything that lives in a place that might get development, logging, mining or drilling. Any republican who vote for this is too stupid to hold public office. At the very least, it is more payoff for environmental groups who help Democratic party fundraising and activism.
Can everyone see my “Shocked!” face?
They’ve been doing this for decades. Now cars carry around a half-ton of “anti-pollution” controls (which reduces the MPG demanded by another .gov agency), so that in smoggy areas the output of the tailpipe is clearer than the intake, and the idiot children are still not happy.
Appeasement is never enough.
No matter what the original source, all used energy ends up as extra heat on the planet. Enough to worry about? I don’t know.
Fusion has been “right around the corner” since the 50’s. And that is exactly where it will always be….just a few years away. Fusion can only happen at very high temperatures…the kind of temperature and pressure you find at the sun’s core. The conditions are right for fusion there because of the enormous gravity. Gravity that CANNOT exist in earth. And THAT is the key to why fusion happens inside the sun and NOT on earth….outside of a split second event like an H bomb. If….and that’s an enormous if…we learn to manipulate gravity, fusion maybe become possible. But the natural forces causing atoms to repel each other when we try to force them to merge means fusion will ALWAYS be difficult under the best circumstances….and generally impossible. Fusion research isnjusba hole to throw OPM at. OPM = Other People’s Money
Except that the gravitational force at the cemter of the sun is zero.
He should have said pressure rather than gravitational force. The huge gravity of the sun creates that pressure.
William Teach: All your science revolves around climate
He’s responding to those who believe fusion power will be able to avoid significant global warming. Unfortunately, the timeline for deployment of fusion power is probably too far off.
James Lewis: But even if we can generate almost unlimited electricity there remains the problem of batteries and distribution.
Large scale storage may not be required with fusion, if it can be quickly and safely throttled.
alanstorm: in smoggy areas the output of the tailpipe is clearer than the intake
Air pollution control has been critical for health and economic growth.
Jim S: No matter what the original source, all used energy ends up as extra heat on the planet. Enough to worry about? I don’t know.
That will not be a problem for the foreseeable future.
Dan: If….and that’s an enormous if…we learn to manipulate gravity, fusion maybe become possible.
The latest developments contradict your claim.
Funny. The kiddieZ can’t find anyone to troll over at Maggie’s Farm so they’re trying really hard to drum up responses to their vague mstupid arguments here at the Cove.
Don’t feed the trollZ.
#EmbraceTheSuck
Bwaha! Lolgf
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