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Scientists Say Their Giant Laser Has Produced Nuclear Fusion
National Public Radio ^ | February 12, 2014 | Geoff Brumfiel

Posted on 02/13/2014 1:12:49 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

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1 posted on 02/13/2014 1:12:49 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The goal is fusion: a process where hydrogen atoms are squeezed together to make helium atoms.

But ponder the planet Jupiter whose core is metallic hydrogen.

2 posted on 02/13/2014 1:23:42 AM PST by Rudder
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The new technique can't reach "ignition," which is the point at which the hydrogen fusion feeds on itself to make more. Even so, JET's Cowley says, this is still a big moment for NIF.

Wow... and we owe it all to Darwin and the evolutionary scientists. Oh wait...

3 posted on 02/13/2014 1:50:10 AM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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Now if we can strap 4 wheels on it, we’ll have something less efficient the than Volt...

I joke... cool news.


4 posted on 02/13/2014 1:58:18 AM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Only took 60 years to reach this “milestone.”

World wide, I’ll guess that commercial fusion R&D has passed $100 billion, adjusted for inflation.

Perhaps the laser research and magnetic confinement technology will pay off at some point.

But in terms of energy output, I think we might have been in much better shape if we had invested that money in photo voltaic and hydrogen technology instead.


5 posted on 02/13/2014 2:54:54 AM PST by zeestephen
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To: zeestephen
Even if it were commercially available tomorrow, I'm sure the environmentalist would find some reason to oppose it.
6 posted on 02/13/2014 3:13:20 AM PST by Falcon4.0
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Omar Hurricane “?? Are Buck Rogers and Dr Zarkoff working there too? And where is Ming the Merciless?


7 posted on 02/13/2014 3:20:25 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Jimmy Valentine

Don’t be silly. Those three are working at Sandia National Laboratory. Omar works with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner.


8 posted on 02/13/2014 3:33:16 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Jimmy Valentine
Dr. Hurricane definitely looks like an evil genius.


9 posted on 02/13/2014 3:51:59 AM PST by billorites (nichtarbeit macht frei)
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To: zeestephen

“But in terms of energy output, I think we might have been in much better shape if we had invested that money in photo voltaic and hydrogen technology instead.”

Not at all in the long run. Economically practical fusion reactors, whether hot or cold fusion, have the capability of making a greater difference in human technologies and adaptation for survival than the discovery of fire. The economic and practical application of fusion energy production makes possible the desalination and purification of water, virtually perpetual electrical power in abundance, the recycling of garbage by breaking it down to the fundamental elements, revolutionizing the chemical industries, and so much more. No hydrogen powered battery can remotely compare in its beneficial applications. It is just going to require extraordinary innovation, time, nad money to discover how to achieve what is certainly available to the people persistent and innovative enough to discover it.


10 posted on 02/13/2014 3:52:33 AM PST by WhiskeyX ( provides a system for registering complaints about unfair broadcasters and the ability to request a)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If its on National Public Radio they must be hoping for a way to heavily regulate it.


11 posted on 02/13/2014 4:14:20 AM PST by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I am not impressed.
I you heat something hot enough you get fusion, but it took more energy than it produced.


12 posted on 02/13/2014 4:21:28 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Freedom isn't free; nor is it easy.)
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To: zeestephen

-——World wide——

Back in the days of Fusion Magazine, the Russians were in a leadership role in fusion research. I wonder if they have any current resources engaged in the fusion effort. I would guess all the old researchers are dead and gone


13 posted on 02/13/2014 4:27:10 AM PST by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Actually they didn’t but they took a step in the right direction.


14 posted on 02/13/2014 4:30:46 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: BuffaloJack
Oh look! I got more NRG out of the firecracker than I put into the black powder inside.

All I had to do was hit it with this flamethrower and...

15 posted on 02/13/2014 4:32:15 AM PST by Aevery_Freeman (Politics are just the rules - Power is the game!)
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To: Jimmy Valentine

His brother, Rock You Like A Hurricane, has had more success in the field of weather control at DARPA


16 posted on 02/13/2014 4:33:45 AM PST by 12th_Monkey (One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
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To: Rudder

Yup, that’s my concern. I’m just not sure we can achieve fusion without the hundreds of billions or trillions of tons of raw materials that stars use.

Fusion, so easy a red dwarf can do it.


17 posted on 02/13/2014 4:35:15 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Perhaps it’s “look, we NEED to show some results or the money train is over”

But, if true, Cool.

FYI, a much larger facility for fusion research is being built in France, which the US is also contributing to.


18 posted on 02/13/2014 4:36:18 AM PST by 12th_Monkey (One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

One of these days I think we are all of us going to see a huge wall of combustion stretching across the entire horizon heading towards towards us. Just before I’m consumed I hope I have the time to think “Hey, somebody got something to work really well this time...”


19 posted on 02/13/2014 4:59:48 AM PST by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: zeestephen

No, Breeder reactors would be the preferred transition to await fusion power.


20 posted on 02/13/2014 5:18:56 AM PST by G Larry
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