Microsoft Bets That Fusion Power Is Closer Than Many Think

Post by tasty_freeze » Wed, May 10, 2023, 2:46 PM UTC

ThomPete wrote: post #4

Fusion is not just another way to power our lightbulbs it's a completely different kind of energy. Two unique properties of energy density like Fusion. 1. The ability to hit 10% of the speed of light in space 2. The ability to create fundamental elements like gold, silver etc. Another good example of the fact that there are no scarcity of resources only scarcity of knowledge. Resources are created not found. Edit: Wh…

Post by xenonite » Wed, May 10, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

tasty_freeze wrote: post #11

ThomPete wrote: post #4

Fusion is not just another way to power our lightbulbs it's a completely different kind of energy. Two unique properties of energy density like Fusion. 1. The ability to hit 10% of the speed of light in space 2. The ability to create fundamental elements like gold, silver etc. Another good example of the fact that there are no scarcity of resources only scarcity of knowledge. Resources are created not found. Edit: Wh…

Fusion releases energy when producing items lighter than iron. It requires energy to create atoms heavier than iron via fusion. It would cost huge amounts of money to produce an ounce of silver or gold that way.

Post by DennisP » Wed, May 10, 2023, 2:59 PM UTC

justrealist wrote: post #8

avalys wrote: post #5

Given that Helios hasn’t demonstrated production of any amount of energy from fusion, this is probably just bullshit, like the United “order” for supersonic jets from Boom a few months ago. Similarly, Boom has not even flown a prototype yet.

Helios is building real facilities. Maybe it won't work, but it's not just drafting CAD templates — they are deploying capital into physical reactors. That's not bullshit.

Post by aaronblohowiak » Wed, May 10, 2023, 3:07 PM UTC

dotBen wrote: post #6

Given the implications of this technology I wonder how much development is actually being done "in the open". And therefore how close to a breakthrough we are, whether a breakthrough has already occured and we are being fed delayed findings, and ultimately how a private organization like Microsoft would truly be able to access matured tech. Whether by incentive or by coercion, it feels like the DOD and the DOE would…

Post by sylens » Wed, May 10, 2023, 3:09 PM UTC

aaronblohowiak wrote: post #17

dotBen wrote: post #6

Given the implications of this technology I wonder how much development is actually being done "in the open". And therefore how close to a breakthrough we are, whether a breakthrough has already occured and we are being fed delayed findings, and ultimately how a private organization like Microsoft would truly be able to access matured tech. Whether by incentive or by coercion, it feels like the DOD and the DOE would…

Are most fusion reactor designs a national security concern? I am not a nuclear physicist but from my rudimentary understanding of most modern approaches I don’t see how they would help with bad stuff (other than creating material for a dirty bomb through waste perhaps)