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Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#461

Post by NoGravitas »

MathCodeLove wrote: post #434
NoGravitas wrote: post #350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even ignoring that, his fortune came from anti-competitive business practices in the 80s and 90s, without which, personal computing would have been in a much better place today.

Without which, you think personal computing would be in a much better place today. You have no way to verify that belief one way or another.

Technically correct, which, as we all know, is the best kind of correct.

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#463

Post by space_fountain »

TrevorJ wrote: post #458

Can someone explain something about fusion for me? To make a fusion reactor that's useful you have to solve two problems: First you have to build a working fusion reactor. Second, you have to capture that energy to do useful work. Given that, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on technology to capture energy from the giant, already working fusion reactor in the sky?

A fusion reactor could have much more concentrated energy. The sun is great, but it's putting out energy in all directions and we're a long way away

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#464

Post by gtirloni »

elric wrote: post #125
gtirloni wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solar panel manufacturing and disposal is far from clean though.

And you think this is going to be any different for fusion plants?

You seem to think it's not going to be any different (or maybe even worse). Could you elaborate?

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#465

Post by soperj »

oneplane wrote: post #412
soperj wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From other comment > I mean, start with why his wife is divorcing him (Jeffery Epstein) and why he's no longer on the board at Microsoft(inappropriate relationships with staffers), then go into how he's screwed up public schooling in the US, then Microsoft under him. That's the easy stuff that you can see publicly.

Just because he as a prick doesn't mean the investment into fusion energy is therefore prick-ish...

It doesn't, also doesn't mean that I can't call him a prick whenever he's mentioned in a light that's slightly glowing.

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#466

Post by alexchamberlain »

TrevorJ wrote: post #458

Can someone explain something about fusion for me? To make a fusion reactor that's useful you have to solve two problems: First you have to build a working fusion reactor. Second, you have to capture that energy to do useful work. Given that, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on technology to capture energy from the giant, already working fusion reactor in the sky?

The giant fusion reactor in the sky dissipates most of its energy before it gets to Earth, and more of it in the atmosphere. A new star born in a reactor can be fully contained, so most of its energy can be captured for its intended use case.

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#468

Post by thescriptkiddie »

TrevorJ wrote: post #458

Can someone explain something about fusion for me? To make a fusion reactor that's useful you have to solve two problems: First you have to build a working fusion reactor. Second, you have to capture that energy to do useful work. Given that, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on technology to capture energy from the giant, already working fusion reactor in the sky?

Solar panels are all well and good, but you couldn't use them inside of a fusion reactor. For one thing they wouldn't be able to withstand the temperature and neutron flux. Most fusion reactor designs capture energy by heating water, same as a fission reactor.

Re: Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy

#469

Post by Stevvo »

darnfish wrote: post #462
davidrusu wrote: post #288

A shot of the pulse from within the reactor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMuOaTqdp4c

What would happen if you stood in that

You contacting the plasma would cause it to collapse, but you would already by cooked. It's a chicken and egg question, because a plasma is never going to get started with a person inside; it needs a near perfect vacuum.
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