Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

[ScienceRocks]

Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Researchers at a US lab have passed a crucial milestone on the way to their ultimate goal of achieving self-sustaining nuclear fusion.

Harnessing fusion - the process that powers the Sun - could provide an unlimited and cheap source of energy.

But to be viable, fusion power plants would have to produce more energy than they consume, which has proven elusive.

Now, a breakthrough by scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) could boost hopes of scaling up fusion.

NIF, based at Livermore in California, uses 192 beams from the world's most powerful laser to heat and compress a small pellet of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place.

The BBC understands that during an experiment in late September, the amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel - the first time this had been achieved at any fusion facility in the world.

BBC News - Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Oh looky we don't have to ruin the economy to go zero CARBON! If you global warmers were really serious you'd invest into fusion.

Sure solar is good, BUT that is NEVER going to be the majority of our energy needs.

 

[Mr. H.]

Hydrocarbons produce much more than energy. They can never be replaced in total.

Oil's swell... and it ends well.

Gas is a gas and your ass would be grassed without it.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Sure,

BUT 80% of electrical power + power to power all the electric cars could be had through fusion.

 

[ScienceRocks]

1. Zero co2
2. No pollution
3. Limitless clean energy for electric cars
4. Energy that is dependable for our electric grid

 

[JoeNormal]

Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Researchers at a US lab have passed a crucial milestone on the way to their ultimate goal of achieving self-sustaining nuclear fusion.

Harnessing fusion - the process that powers the Sun - could provide an unlimited and cheap source of energy.

But to be viable, fusion power plants would have to produce more energy than they consume, which has proven elusive.

Now, a breakthrough by scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) could boost hopes of scaling up fusion.

NIF, based at Livermore in California, uses 192 beams from the world's most powerful laser to heat and compress a small pellet of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place.

The BBC understands that during an experiment in late September, the amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel - the first time this had been achieved at any fusion facility in the world.

BBC News - Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Oh looky we don't have to ruin the economy to go zero CARBON! If you global warmers were really serious you'd invest into fusion.

Sure solar is good, BUT that is NEVER going to be the majority of our energy needs.

Cool! That's something of a holy grail.

I had a professor about 30 years ago who said that once they'd reached break-even, it would still be about 50 years before it would be commercially viable. Still, good to see that progress is being made.

 

[bripat9643]

Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Researchers at a US lab have passed a crucial milestone on the way to their ultimate goal of achieving self-sustaining nuclear fusion.

Harnessing fusion - the process that powers the Sun - could provide an unlimited and cheap source of energy.

But to be viable, fusion power plants would have to produce more energy than they consume, which has proven elusive.

Now, a breakthrough by scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) could boost hopes of scaling up fusion.

NIF, based at Livermore in California, uses 192 beams from the world's most powerful laser to heat and compress a small pellet of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place.

The BBC understands that during an experiment in late September, the amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel - the first time this had been achieved at any fusion facility in the world.

BBC News - Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Oh looky we don't have to ruin the economy to go zero CARBON! If you global warmers were really serious you'd invest into fusion.

Sure solar is good, BUT that is NEVER going to be the majority of our energy needs.

The amount of energy absorbed by the fuel is a vastly smaller quantity than the amount of energy required to produce the laser beams. It won't truly be "break even" until the energy produced equals or exceeds that later quantity.

 

[flacaltenn]

Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Researchers at a US lab have passed a crucial milestone on the way to their ultimate goal of achieving self-sustaining nuclear fusion.

Harnessing fusion - the process that powers the Sun - could provide an unlimited and cheap source of energy.

But to be viable, fusion power plants would have to produce more energy than they consume, which has proven elusive.

Now, a breakthrough by scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) could boost hopes of scaling up fusion.

NIF, based at Livermore in California, uses 192 beams from the world's most powerful laser to heat and compress a small pellet of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place.

The BBC understands that during an experiment in late September, the amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel - the first time this had been achieved at any fusion facility in the world.

BBC News - Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

Oh looky we don't have to ruin the economy to go zero CARBON! If you global warmers were really serious you'd invest into fusion.

Sure solar is good, BUT that is NEVER going to be the majority of our energy needs.

Cool! That's something of a holy grail.

I had a professor about 30 years ago who said that once they'd reached break-even, it would still be about 50 years before it would be commercially viable. Still, good to see that progress is being made.

Sure those lazy ass, primadonna scientists are gonna wait til the oceans boil before they fix this.. Where ya gonna get hydrogen when all the water is gone??

Cap the wells, close the mines... We've got a planet with a fever... And Micronesia needs a lift.. And all you're doing is screwing around with death ray lasers and shit..

 

[flacaltenn]

Seriously... Wouldn't it be ironic if you needed to build a nuclear plant to "JUMP START" a fusion reactor?

 

[ScienceRocks]

Seriously... Wouldn't it be ironic if you needed to build a nuclear plant to "JUMP START" a fusion reactor?

I'd support it.