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Orbiting Lasers for Hydrogen Power

DerekLyons writes: "Yahoo is carrying a story about a Japanese scientist who plans to use giant orbiting lasers to extract H2 from seawater. The interesting part of the scheme is that design uses solar pumped lasers, which avoid the loss of efficiency (and increased launch weight) from powering the laser with electricity from solar cells. Is the way to finally break the main dilemma of the hydrogen economy? (That it takes more energy to make the hydrogen than you gain in using it.)"

9 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. Replies by Syberghost · · Score: 4, Funny

    I predict that within 30 minutes, there will be at least two confused posts saying that we should just use solar panels to generate electricity to "crack" the hydrogen from sea water.

    I further predict that at least one of these will, after someone posts a brief reply explaining why that's not a workable idea, dissolve into flames.

  2. solar panels by Lord+Puppet · · Score: 2, Funny

    We should just use solar panels to generate electricity to crack the hydrogen from sea water!

    1. Re:solar panels by ComaVN · · Score: 2, Funny

      Always happy to lose some karma for humor's sake.
      It's been good posting with you people, we should do this again some time

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  3. A "Giant Laser"? by Oztun · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah but what happens when Dr Evil gets ahold of this "giant laser" and holds the earth hostage for ONE MILLION dollars?

  4. Re:That's why this will never be implemented by InfoVore · · Score: 5, Funny

    AP-WORLD NEWSBURST 10 Jan 2019:

    BUSINESS:

    A spokesman for the Empire of Japan announced the successful launch of the last power-sat in their highly successful Laser Power Satellite System. The system, which provides 98% of Japan's power, has been extended to allow them to provide power to any point on the globe. "We can focus 10 terawatts of laser energy to any point on the earth. The market for our space based power is unlimited and unstoppable." said Energy Minister Hirohito.

    POLITICS:

    U.S. Trade Secretary Jenna Bush announced that all trade sanctions against the newly reformed Empire of Japan would be removed. "The Japanese are old and trustworthy friends of the United States. The restoration of the Empire should not be seen as an aggressive anti-democratic move. Instead, it should be seen as an old and honorable society returning to its cultural roots. We applaud them."

    FASHION:

    The World Fashion Expo in New York provided a peak at this year's hot fashions. For the second year in a row, chrome and silver were the materials of choice. The new fashion accessory for this year is mirror-silvered umbrellas. Elite fashion designer Mano had this to say about the trend- "Shiny Shiny Shiny. Is beautiful and functional, No?"

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  5. Dissolving! by Lord+Puppet · · Score: 2, Funny

    Flames! I'm dissolving in flames!

  6. Re:Interesting idea by sehryan · · Score: 2, Funny

    from playing simcity, you would know that the only risk is from it missing its target and blowing up a section of town, which is easy to stop by just unchecking "Disasters." DUH!

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  7. And it shall be called... by slow_flight · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... the Alan Parsons project.

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    Karma: Professionally Doomed (mostly affected by inability to keep opinions to self)
  8. I've got a better idea by Tyrannosaurus · · Score: 5, Funny
    Why don't we just attach some laser beams to the heads of some sharks? The sharks are in the water, the lasers are in the water...BAM, we've got the Hydrogen!


    C'mon people! All I want is some frickin' sharks with lasers on their heads! Is that too much to ask?

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