British Researchers Say Fusion Is Close

sh00z writes: "The article quotes a leading scientist saying that Fusion power is 'within reach' in the next decade, with commercial plants to follow within another 10 or so years. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone at Texas A&M. They might just jump the starting gun again."

Comments

what in the hell

[ferringb]

Somebody please explain to me, how I can hit the frigging lameness filter and every other damned filter known to man, yet AC fools can hop on and spout some of the most amazing trolling I've ever seen.

Lets face it, fusion power took a bit of a hit in it's credibility w/ the whole cold fussion thing...
Just curious, reading through the article, and it really doesn't describe much... just states that they're making progress and this leaner solution has solved technical problems- anybody got any info on what tech problems?

Fusion Processors?

[alpinist]

Man... Then we'll have to put up with overclockers who accidentally "let the smoke out" and level the neighborhood. However, hydrogen fusion computers goes great with those consumer hydrogen fuel cells!

it's been 20 years away for last 60 years...

[Rhinobird]

Um...why do they keep saying this. They've been saying fusion power is 10 to 20 years away since the begining of nuclear power. Make them stop. Make them unable to say that fusion is XX years away until they have a power plant up and running.

Re:Here we go again

[justin.warren]

To all those naysayers who are complaining that it's still '10 years away' but that it might be longer, do a better job yourself.

Fusion power, as distinct from cold fusion, is a very realisable goal, but is extremely complex stuff that takes time to develop. To become a viable power source it must be stable, efficient and safe. Without being all these things it will never be a commercially viable energy source.

Sure, it isn't just now, but all forms of technology take time and effort to develop from an embryonic, hacked up thing that sortof works some of the time to a reliable technology. Think back to before CRTs were available and how computers were rooms of magnetic core and paper tape. In a mere 40 to 50 years they've gone from ludicrously expensive industrial monsters to commonplace items you have difficulty imagining life without.

Keep that in mind next time you take pot shots at people who are working damn hard to try to create something useful for all of mankind. So it might take a bit of time. It'll be worth the wait.