Sustainable nuclear fusion breakthrough raises hopes for ultimate green energy

The Guardian ^ | 02/13/2014 | Ian Sample

[TexasGator]

“So if they’re combining light atomic nuclei into heavier particles does that mean they can keep creating heavier particles until they’re making gold and platinum and such? Or is that a completely different thing?”

That is the same process that gold and platinum originated from. Read about the origin of the elements and fusion in stars.

[TexasGator]

“If they only stuck with the Cold Fusion thing instead of deriding it, we’d be going to those perfect carbon copies of Earth they discover every day at light speed, have flying jet packs and Star Trek like transporter technology.”

Did you get your order in last year? Rossi says the home model will be ready for delivery early 2014.

[tet68]

.The problem is, was it usable energy?
Atomic “power” is fine but the usable energy
is still made with a steam turbine/generator
from 2 hundred years ago.
Let me know when they go direct, then they’ll
be getting some where.

[Rodamala]

I believe only 15% of the laser power made it to the target... that is a lot of waste.

[aruanan]

Fusion energy has the potential to become a radical alternative power source, with zero carbon emissions during operation and minimal waste,

Already true of regular old nuclear energy, especially when compared to coal.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The problem is, was it usable energy?

Of course it wasn't usable.

Atomic “power” is fine but the usable energy is still made with a steam turbine/generator

Not all of it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SeekAndFind.

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Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking by Charles Seife

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