boriz Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 (edited) https://scitechdaily.com/chinas-artificial-sun-shatters-fusion-record-with-over-17-minutes-of-plasma/ If this is true, it's a huge step forward towards the hypothetical clean energy future we desperately need. China is famously circumspect with their (often stolen) tech, and they have been caught lying before. But... I'll wait until it's confirmed/reproduced, but I have my fingers crossed, and if it is true, we might actually have clean energy within a generation or two. I'm optimistic. I'm a big fan of government spending on Science, including Blue skies research. Are some governments falling behind? Are the cuts to Science research coming home to roost? Spoiler Edited February 8 by boriz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DareMightyThingsJPL Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 29 minutes ago, boriz said: If this is true, it's a huge step forward towards the hypothetical clean energy future we desperately need That depends quite a bit on the fusion fuel. Some fusion fuels produce radioisotopes, which can be even more expensive to dispose of than normal nuclear waste, and we end up with the same problem as with nuclear energy. Furthermore, some of the best fusion fuels are too rare (looking at you, Helium-3) to be practical for generations to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boriz Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 (edited) Yes, coal and oil and fission products etc.. Sorry, you were saying something about "more expensive"? Edited February 8 by boriz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DareMightyThingsJPL Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 If true, it is a huge step forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boriz Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 (edited) 3 minutes ago, DareMightyThingsJPL said: If true, it is a huge step forward. I agree. Edited February 8 by boriz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuke Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 was this just a containment test at sub fusion temperatures? thats equivalent to how useful static fire tests are to rocket science. if you are not running the machine in a useful operating regime, eg actually fusing, or in the case of rockets, actually going up. sure its a useful step in developing the technology, but its a long way from a viable power plant. its just the next milestone on a million mile highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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